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| Re: Problems with your theories... | |
| Posted By: Physalis | Date: 4/7/01 10:17 p.m. |
In Response To: Re: Problems with your theories... (Hethal) :I also heard NASA was working with this EMP technology to perhaps launch :objects into space. NASA, heck. Maglev trains function on exactly the same principle as a railgun or mass driver, and those HAVE been built. The one I'm sure on is the Japanese prototype that set a record speed of 349 kph unmanned in 1997. The Germans are also apparently working on them. Apparently the greatest problem in a magnetic weapon is to switch power between inductor coils at a high enough speed so that one can keep the projectile accelerating. According to one document housed on a NASA server, railguns would also require a LOT of power to fire, and the actual rails would quickly degrade. So, Arnie's railgun in Eraser might require a fusion pack to power it and he'd have to carry 3 or 4 barrels with him. Mass drivers (coilguns) apparently use less power and don't degrade (cos the projectile never touches the barrel), but switching power between coils is still difficult. I think the only reason it works ok for maglev is that the train moves at a max of 220 mph (349 kph as above). A supersonic projectile is three times as fast. To my mind, it looks like mag-drivers will be limited to relatively slow applications... such as jeep wheels. Or possibly spaceship cannons, where the expense can be spared :> The document below is where I got some of the stats on rail and coil drivers. | |
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