Railgun Technology

The railgun is a weapon which is launched using the electromagnetic high velocity projectiles by slithering armature which is accelerated along two parallel conductive rails. The construction of the railgun is such that it doesn’t usually contain any explosives yet the damage is immense. It is the high speed of the railgun that causes the damage.<br />Parts<br />A railgun comprises of two major parts:<br />Rails – made of conductive metal they can be anywhere between 4 and 30 feet in length. <br />Armature – this conduits the gap between the rails. It usually a piece of conductive metal and its design is vital for the proper functioning of the railgun. Plasma armatures are also used at times. <br />Working<br />The principle of working a railgun is somewhat like that of the homopolar motor. <br />An electromagnetic rail gun uses Lorentz force and propels an armature that has been loaded with a projectile. <br />The driving current moves between the rails through the armature which gigantic current induces a massive field between the rails. The Lorentz forces acts on the current that moves through the armature. <br />Suggested Applications<br />Railguns are being researched for application in defence so the respective country can be defended from attacks from ballistic missiles. <br />Several scientists claim that railgun technology can be helpful in protecting Earth from invading asteroids. Firing high velocity projectiles from orbit can either change the course of the asteroid of have it destroyed completely. <br />They may also be helpful in launching a space shuttles or satellites. A chemical propellant needs air to function but railguns don’t need atmosphere to work which is absent on bodies such as moon.