Changes

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>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090501130850/http://www.nswc.navy.mil/ET/railgun/index.html U.S. Navy: Electromagnetic Railgun]</ref>  As development has continued, these weapons now can fire projectiles weighing at least 23 pounds, which can travel for over 100 miles, and still possess 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 other features, including [[GPS]] guidance systems and warheads in the railgun rounds.<ref>http://science.howstuffworks.com/rail-gun3.htm</ref><br />

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>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090501130850/http://www.nswc.navy.mil/ET/railgun/index.html U.S. Navy: Electromagnetic Railgun]</ref>  As development has continued, these weapons now can fire projectiles weighing at least 23 pounds, which can travel for over 100 miles, and still possess 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 other features, including [[GPS]] guidance systems and warheads in the railgun rounds.<ref>http://science.howstuffworks.com/rail-gun3.htm</ref><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, and intense forces driving the rails apart when used.  Components have the tenancy to melt and wear out quickly. 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, but offering all of these along with a durable rail system can be quite complicated.<ref>http://science.howstuffworks.com/rail-gun2.htm</ref> Much work is being done to design a reliable device for the navy which satisfies these and other requirements. 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, and intense forces driving the rails apart when used.  Components have the tendency to melt and wear out quickly. 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, but offering all of these along with a durable rail system can be quite complicated.<ref>http://science.howstuffworks.com/rail-gun2.htm</ref> Much work is being done to design a reliable device for the navy which satisfies these and other requirements. 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>

== References ==

== References ==