Changes

A '''Railgun''' is a type of artillery that fires projectiles at supersonic speeds by launching them using [[electromagnetism]] instead of gunpowder or  some other chemical propellant. Current expectations for railguns are a 400-mile (643.6 kilometer) range and an impact velocity in excess of Mach 8. Railguns are specifically weapons that consist of two conductive rails and a conductive projectile which is inserted between the rails.  A current is passed up through the negative rail, across the projectile and then down the positive rail, completing the circuit at the power supply.  The flow of electricity causes the railgun to behave like an electromagnet, and the physics involved cause the projectile to be launched down the rail.  This process is specific to the functioning of the railgun, thereby giving the weapon its name.<ref>[http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/20164/?nlid=857 Technology Review, Feb. 2008: "Electromagnetic Railgun Blasts Off"]</ref>

A '''Railgun''' is a type of artillery that fires projectiles at supersonic speeds by launching them using [[electromagnetism]] instead of gunpowder or  some other chemical propellant. Current expectations for railguns are a 400-mile (643.6 kilometer) range and an impact velocity in excess of [[Mach]] 8.  

 

Railguns are specifically weapons that consist of two conductive rails and a conductive projectile which is inserted between the rails.  A current is passed up through the negative rail, across the projectile and then down the positive rail, completing the circuit at the power supply.  The flow of electricity causes the railgun to behave like an electromagnet, and the physics involved cause the projectile to be launched down the rail.  This process is specific to the functioning of the railgun, thereby giving the weapon its name.<ref>[http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/20164/?nlid=857 Technology Review, Feb. 2008: "Electromagnetic Railgun Blasts Off"]</ref>

 

==Purpose==

==Purpose==

[[Image:Railgun Navy1.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Photograph taken from a high-speed video camera during a record-setting firing of an electromagnetic railgun (EMRG) at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren, Va., on January 31, 2008, firing at 10.64MJ (megajoules) with a muzzle velocity of 2520 meters per second.  At this speed, the test projectile actually burns, causing the wave of fire behind it.]]

[[Image:Railgun Navy1.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Photograph taken from a high-speed video camera during a record-setting firing of an electromagnetic railgun (EMRG) at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren, Va., on January 31, 2008, firing at 10.64MJ (megajoules) with a muzzle velocity of 2520 meters per second.  At this speed, the test projectile actually burns, causing the wave of fire behind it.]]

#High lethality (energy-on-target)  

#High lethality (energy-on-target)  

The U.S. Navy has tested a railgun that shot a 7-pound projectile traveling seven times the speed of sound, sending a visible shockwave through the air.<ref>[http://www.nswc.navy.mil/ET/railgun/index.html U.S. Navy: Electromagnetic Railgun]</ref>

The projectiles them selves can offer several benefits as well. Although the rail gun projectiles are not cheap, they are much less expensive than current weapon systems. Also, they are much smaller, meaning that a navy ship can carry a much greater compliment of weapons than is currently possible.  

The Railgun should not be confused with the coilgun, also known as the Gauss gun, a weapon that works by generating an electromagnetic field using coils external to the barrel, and using a projectile that is contactless with the firing mechanism (the coils).

The U.S. Navy tested a railgun that shot a 7-pound projectile traveling seven times the speed of sound (mach 7), sending a visible shockwave through the air.<ref>[http://www.nswc.navy.mil/ET/railgun/index.html U.S. Navy: Electromagnetic Railgun] ''(DEAD LINK)''</ref>  They are now up to 23 pound projectiles, which can travel for over 100 miles, and still posses enough kinetic energy to cause significant damage.<ref>http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/rail-gun-u-s-navy-top-gun-article-1.1749616</ref> Developers are also working on including guidance systems and warheads in the railgun rounds.<br />

Current problems with railguns are power generation and barrel life. Railguns require large amounts of power to work in the first place. They also go through barrels quickly because of the extreme temperatures inside the barrel. However, railguns are being developed successfully by U.S. companies such as General Atomics<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNLrQhn5nLo</ref> and BAE Systems.<ref>http://www.baesystems.com/en-us/product/electromagnetic--em--railgun</ref>  Cool down, fire rate, fire speed, range, and projectile type are all elements in development.  Much work is being done to design a reliable device for the navy. However, limited "hobby" models can be designed by almost anyone with enough knowledge in electrical engineering.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAs9EHtKfVc</ref>

Current problems with railguns are power generation and barrel life. Railguns require large amounts of power to work in the first place. They also go through barrels quickly because of the extreme temperatures inside the barrel. However, railguns are being developed successfully by U.S. companies such as General Atomics<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNLrQhn5nLo</ref> and BAE Systems.<ref>http://www.baesystems.com/en-us/product/electromagnetic--em--railgun</ref>  Cool down, fire rate, fire speed, range, and projectile type are all elements in development.  Much work is being done to design a reliable device for the navy. However, limited "hobby" models can be designed by almost anyone with enough knowledge in electrical engineering.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAs9EHtKfVc</ref>