Rail gun

[knunn]

Im currently making (or trying to make) a rail gun, a very small one with a 9 volt batery and little pits of foil and so on. So far what iv done is put down 2 strips of foil, put a 9 volt batery on the end so each terminal has a bit of foil on it, and dropped a bit of steel onto the track. All it does now is spark and heat up. Iv exparemented with

Comments

[hhgg42]

you need a magnetic projectile

http://sci-toys.com/scitoys/scitoys/electro/railgun/railgun.html

and instead of a TV, try a wall outlet. Much more power =)

[knunn]

iv looked at that article before, the magnets are used to boost the projectile so it doesnt need as much power. by running a current through a piece of metal it creats an electo-magnetic field around it which is why most rail guns dont need magnets. i think i might just need more powa captin! or perhaps a better conductor will make a better field? (cuz the field is from the movement of electrons, so more electrons moving means more magnetism?) i think ill try copper wen i find some.

Amy if you are reading this, no, dont try a wall outlet. Tv go for it, wall, no.

[hhgg42]

try a 12 volt car battery. But if you do, make sure you use a resistor too, so you don't get a short (the engines going to blow, cap'n, I don't know how much longer she can hold together!) and all that

[knunn]

12 volts wont be enough, currently my little zappy gas lighter thing is putting out well over 12 volts, like in the hundres or possiably thousands range and it still doesnt move. maybe amps are needed? im gona by a few little capaciters, and im gona make a cattle prod :) and a tesla coil for killin bugs, and an EMP generator. Capacitors are such fun things...

[hhgg42]

well yeah, its just that the normal 12 volt car battery has a very large potential electron flow too.

And to make a cattle prod, yeah, capacitors are fun. I've made one by taking apart a hand held bug zapper and putting on new contacts. what fun!

[knunn]

did you test it on any one?

I got my capacitors today, didnt research them, i just walked into dick smiths and bought some little blue ones. is says 16V on the side but i dont have anything higher than 2.5V in battery or 30V from a transformer, so im usin the 30V. They sure do heat up too! So far the railgun isnt doin anything but iv onyl tryed steel rails and aluminium pojectile. Meh, ill get it soon enough. maybe a series of 4 will help... (start dialing the hospital now)