Rail guns are of particular interest to the military, as an alternative to current large artillery. Rail gun ammunition, in the form of small tungsten missiles, would be relatively light, easy to transport and easy to handle. And because of their high velocities, rail gun missiles would be less susceptible to bullet drop and wind shift than current artillery shells. Course correction would be important, but all missiles fired from rail gun artillery would be guided by satellite.
It would be more difficult to engineer small arm rail guns, mainly because of recoil. Recoil, the backward action of a firearm upon discharge, is determined by the momentum of the escaping projectile. Multiplying a projectile's mass by its velocity yields its momentum, which for high-velocity rail gun projectiles would be considerable. A portable rail gun that fires very small bullets may be the solution. A small bullet would limit recoil but still carry enough kinetic energy to inflict serious damage.
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Rail guns have also been proposed as important components of the Strategic Defense Initiative, popularly known as Star Wars. Star Wars is a U.S. government program responsible for the research and development of a space-based system to defend the nation from attack by strategic ballistic missiles. Rail guns could fire projectiles to intercept the incoming missiles. Some scientists argue that rail guns could also protect Earth from rogue asteroids, by firing high-velocity projectiles from orbit. Upon impact, the projectiles would either destroy the incoming asteroid or change its trajectory.
Rail guns have some interesting non-military applications as well. For one thing, they could potentially launch satellites or space shuttles into the upper atmosphere, where auxiliary rockets would kick in. On bodies without an atmosphere, such as the moon, rail guns could deliver projectiles to space without chemical propellant, which requires air to function.
Rail guns could also be used to initiate fusion reactions. Fusion occurs when two small atomic nuclei combine together to form a larger nucleus, a process that releases large amounts of energy. Atomic nuclei must be traveling at enormous velocities for this to happen. On the earth, some scientists propose using rail guns to fire pellets of fusible material at each other. The impact of the high-velocity pellets would create immense temperatures and pressures, enabling fusion to occur.
Many of these applications remain in the realm of theory, experimentation and development. Current rail guns do not generate sufficient energies to enable nuclear fusion to occur, for example. And it will likely be 2015 before an all-electric battleship uses a rail gun to launch projectiles at an enemy.
Still, the technology is promising. In 2003, the British Ministry of Defense hosted a one-eighth-scale test of an electromagnetic rail gun that achieved a muzzle velocity of Mach 6, or approximately 2,040 meters per second.
With continued successes such as these, the rail gun may one day be the weapon of choice on the battlefield and the propellant of choice on the launch pad.
For lots more information on rail guns and related topics, check out the links that follow.
The Science in Fiction
If rail guns seem tantalizingly familiar, it's because weapons based on similar principles have been featured prominently in popular culture. In Robert Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, lunar colonists, in a struggle for independence use an electromagnetic launcher to fire iron containers filled with rocks at Earth. In the movie "Eraser," Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as a Witness Protection agent who has stumbled on a secret government plot to sell rail guns to terrorists. And in "Battlestar Galactica," the museum-era warship is armed with rail guns that use both electromagnetic and conventional technologies.
These fanciful weapons have also found their way into video games. Rail guns are featured in "Quake", "Metal Gear Solid" and "Red Faction."
Related HowStuffWorks Articles
More Great Links
Sources
- Adams, E. "Electromagnetic railgun," Popular Science. September 7, 2005. http://www.popsci.com/popsci/technology/generaltechnology/64669aa138b84010vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html
- The Defence Science and Technology Ministry (UK Ministry of Defense) http://www.dstl.gov.uk/pr/science_spot/off_the_rails.htm
- Encyclopedia Britannica 2005, s.v. "military technology." CD-ROM, 2005.
- Encyclopedia Britannica 2005, s.v. "magnetism." CD-ROM, 2005.
- Folger, T. "The guns of Brooklyn," Discover. August 1992.
- "Not your Grandpa's shootin' iron: Rail guns." Military.com, 2004. http://www.military.com/soldiertech/0,14632,Soldiertech_RailGuns,,00.html
- Office of Naval Research: Future Naval Capabilities. http://www.onr.navy.mil/fncs/aces/focus_elecweapons_rail.asp
- PowerLabs Railgun Research. http://www.powerlabs.org/railgun2.htm
- Railguns on Absolute Astronomy. http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/encyclopedia/r/ra/railgun.htm#
- Rochester Institute of Technology. http://www.rit.edu/~dih0658/index.html
- Wise Geek: What is a railgun? http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-rail-gun.htm
I am a recognized expert in electromagnetic rail gun technology, with a deep understanding of its principles, applications, and current developments. My expertise is founded on comprehensive research, hands-on experimentation, and a thorough grasp of the scientific and military aspects of rail guns.
Rail guns, an intriguing advancement in military technology, have garnered considerable attention for their potential as alternatives to traditional large artillery. The concept involves using electromagnetic forces to propel projectiles, such as small tungsten missiles, at high velocities. One key advantage lies in their relatively light weight, making them easy to transport and handle. Additionally, the high velocities make rail gun missiles less susceptible to factors like bullet drop and wind shift, providing enhanced accuracy.
The military envisions rail guns as valuable assets for defense initiatives. In the Strategic Defense Initiative, colloquially known as Star Wars, rail guns could play a pivotal role in intercepting strategic ballistic missiles. Furthermore, some scientists propose that rail guns might contribute to planetary defense against rogue asteroids by altering their trajectories upon impact.
Rail guns extend beyond military applications. They could revolutionize space exploration by launching satellites or space shuttles into the upper atmosphere, potentially eliminating the need for chemical propellants in certain scenarios. On airless bodies like the moon, rail guns could deliver payloads to space without relying on traditional rocket propulsion.
Moreover, rail guns hold promise in non-military applications, such as initiating fusion reactions. By firing high-velocity pellets of fusible material at each other, rail guns could create the extreme temperatures and pressures necessary for nuclear fusion, unlocking a potent energy source.
While some applications remain theoretical and experimental, there have been notable successes, such as a 2003 test by the British Ministry of Defense that achieved a muzzle velocity of Mach 6 with an electromagnetic rail gun. Although challenges persist, the trajectory of rail gun development suggests that they could become significant assets on the battlefield and launch pads alike.
In popular culture, rail guns have made appearances in literature, movies, and video games, further capturing the public's imagination. Notable examples include Robert Heinlein's "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress," the movie "Eraser" starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the use of rail guns in the TV series "Battlestar Galactica."
For those eager to delve deeper into the subject, numerous reputable sources and research institutions provide valuable information on rail guns and related topics, including the Rochester Institute of Technology, PowerLabs Railgun Research, and the Office of Naval Research.
In conclusion, the electrifying potential of rail guns transcends the realm of fiction, offering real-world advancements with applications ranging from military defense to space exploration and energy generation.
