Changes

==Design==

==Design==

Railguns are specifically weapons that consist of two conductive rails (often made of [[copper]]) 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. In some cases, the projectile itself is the sole conductor, while in other cases, a sabot us used to carry the (usually non-conductive) main projectile.  Alternatively, a plasma armature can be used--in this setup, thin metal foil is wrapped around a non-conductive projectile.  When power is run through the rails and foil, the foil vaporizes into [[plasma]], which caries the needed current. The flow of electricity causes the railgun to behave like an electromagnet, and the [[Lorentz force]] causes 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><ref name="HSW rail1">http://science.howstuffworks.com/rail-gun1.htm</ref>

Railguns are specifically weapons that consist of two conductive rails (often made of [[copper]]) 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. In some cases, the projectile itself is the sole conductor, while in other cases, a sabot us used to carry the (usually non-conductive) main projectile.  Alternatively, a plasma armature can be used—in this setup, thin metal foil is wrapped around a non-conductive projectile.  When power is run through the rails and foil, the foil vaporizes into [[plasma]], which caries the needed current. The flow of electricity causes the railgun to behave like an electromagnet, and the [[Lorentz force]] causes 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><ref name="HSW rail1">http://science.howstuffworks.com/rail-gun1.htm</ref>

The power requirements of a rail gun are enormous.  Significant power generation capability must be connected to [[capacitor]]s so that the needed burst of energy can be released. For larger rail guns, such as the military hopes to use, millions of amps are required to produce a sufficient electromagnetic force.<ref name="HSW rail1">http://science.howstuffworks.com/rail-gun1.htm</ref><br />

The power requirements of a rail gun are enormous.  Significant power generation capability must be connected to [[capacitor]]s so that the needed burst of energy can be released. For larger rail guns, such as the military hopes to use, millions of amps are required to produce a sufficient electromagnetic force.<ref name="HSW rail1"/><br />

The Railgun should not be confused with the coilgun, also known as the Gauss gun, a weapon which 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 Railgun should not be confused with the coilgun, also known as the Gauss gun, a weapon which 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).