Build Gauss Gun for Semester Experiment

[Sabo295]

For a semester long experiment, I am to build a coil (gauss) gun. I also need to hand in a paper including all equations and theory relevant to the experiment, but I have not been able to find any equations that actually work for the purposes I require. Any help to guide me in the right direction is much appreciated.

 

[berkeman]

For a semester long experiment, I am to build a coil (gauss) gun. I also need to hand in a paper including all equations and theory relevant to the experiment, but I have not been able to find any equations that actually work for the purposes I require. Any help to guide me in the right direction is much appreciated.

What level are you in school now? Have you learned Maxwell's Equations yet? What web resources have you looked at so far? (wikipedia, hyperphysics, etc.)

 

[Grep]

That sounds like a lot of fun. Wish I was taking that class with you!

I suppose one place to start is the Wiki page for Coilguns:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coilgun

Seems like a great starting place. There's some great information there about various things to consider. Other than that, as berkeman said, we'd have to know a bit more about what you know about Electricity and Magnetism and such things to know where to start. Nor am I in any way an expert about those beyond a basic knowledge, so I'll leave that to others. But that page is a great way to start. Google also seems to return all sorts of potentially useful information.

Hope you have fun with it!

 

[Sabo295]

Well, I am doing CEGEP 2 (equivelent to 1st year university), and I have looked at Wikipedia, and many other sources such as numerous papers from Google scholar, but have had little success.

I have not, as of yet learned the Maxwell equations, and I am trying to use Faraday`s law of induction: $$\phi$$ = $$\int$$ BxdA

and F =qvBsin$$\Theta$$

So far have gotten both equations to equal zero, as I am using a cylindrical projectile and the field is in the same direction as the acceleration and speed.

 

[DeeNos]

Dear student,

Building a gauss gun for your semester experiment is a great idea! This type of experiment can be a fun and educational way to explore electromagnetism and projectile motion. However, I can understand your frustration in finding equations that are applicable for your specific experiment.

To start, let's discuss the basic principles of a gauss gun. A gauss gun works by using a series of magnets to accelerate a projectile. When the first magnet is turned on, it creates a magnetic field that pulls the projectile towards it. As the projectile passes through the first magnet, it becomes magnetized and is then attracted to the second magnet. This process continues until the projectile reaches the end of the series of magnets.

In order to accurately predict the motion of the projectile in a gauss gun, we need to consider a few factors. First, we need to know the strength of the magnetic field created by each magnet. This can be calculated using the equation B = μ0I/2πr, where B is the magnetic field strength, μ0 is the permeability of free space, I is the current in the magnet, and r is the distance from the magnet.

Next, we need to consider the force exerted on the projectile by each magnet. This can be calculated using the equation F = qv x B, where F is the force, q is the charge of the projectile, v is its velocity, and B is the magnetic field strength.

To predict the trajectory of the projectile, we also need to consider the initial velocity of the projectile and the angle at which it is launched. This can be calculated using basic kinematic equations such as v = u + at and s = ut + 1/2at^2, where v is the final velocity, u is the initial velocity, a is the acceleration, and t is the time.

In addition to these equations, you may also want to consider the effects of air resistance and the weight of the projectile on its motion. These can be incorporated into your calculations using additional equations and principles.

I hope this guidance helps you in your experiment. Remember to carefully document your process and results, and to include all relevant equations and theories in your paper. Good luck with your gauss gun experiment!