>> ^ButterflyKisses:

It's plasma energy resulting in what tadd just said. It's a very intense buildup of electromagnetic energy onto the surface area of the bottom of the projectile. In the last clip on this video, the projectile lost structural integrity from the g-forces.
>> ^mtadd:
>> ^VoodooV:
ok...so I'm dumb, if it's electromagnetically propelled, what's with the explosion?

My guess would be its a result of the shockwave from the ballistic reaching supersonic velocity.


actually you are wrong. what you see is projectile's casing falling off. see http://media.defenseindustrydaily.com/images/ORD_EM_Rail_Gun_7MJ_Shot_lg.jpg and http://www.dstl.gov.uk/news_events/images/railgun.jpg

I had a random guess as well. Most of the rail systems I am familiar with have a chamber the projectile travels down like the barrel of a gun. The main problem I have heard with this systems is the problem of bracing the projectile. How do you accelerate a metal object to super sonic speeds without it destroying the chamber via friction? Some had it in a jacket that was guided by a catapult like system on an aircraft carrier. This results in sparks, fires, and smoke because of the friction involved. I can't find details on this specific gun though beyond "they fired it".

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/bae-producing-scaleddown-rail-gun-naval-weapon-01986/

http://www.navytimes.com/news/2010/12/ap-navy-dahlgren-railgun-test-121010/

It's plasma energy resulting in what tadd just said. It's a very intense buildup of electromagnetic energy onto the surface area of the bottom of the projectile. In the last clip on this video, the projectile lost structural integrity from the g-forces.

>> ^mtadd:

>> ^VoodooV:
ok...so I'm dumb, if it's electromagnetically propelled, what's with the explosion?

My guess would be its a result of the shockwave from the ballistic reaching supersonic velocity.

>> ^VoodooV:

ok...so I'm dumb, if it's electromagnetically propelled, what's with the explosion?


Good question. I'm not sure but I would assume that some electronics burned out causing the sparks and the smoke. Some of the sound could also be from the projectile breaking the sound barrier.

If you put it on "spin" will she just projectile vomit everywhere?

http://videosift.com/video/Millimeters-Matter

Trebuchets, Ballistas, Mangonels and Onagers are all catapults..

However, a trebuchet works by using the energy of a raised counterweight to throw the projectile. i.e. they're powered by gravity.

Tho, since the device in this ad gets its power from those springs on either side..

Its design is closer to a torsion catapult like a Mangonel or Onager.

Generically referred to as just "a catapult".

[cause the only real difference is: Onagers use a sling. Mangonels use a spoon or basket.]

Sorry for nerdin' out.. I used to be reeeally into that sorta stuff. = P

laser guided projectile vomiting for everybody!>> ^Don_Juan:

vomit

.027kJ of force applied to 1" diameter of surface area needed to break skull bone. This is 1.25kJ. Even considering the drop off due to distance and air resistance, it would definitely crack a skull and would likely lodge itself in someone's brain. The temple is one of the few places where a small puncture can kill someone. Ergo: Don't build this then shoot someone in the head with it.

>> ^chicchorea:

LMFAO...cafe everywhere.
Of course, a GRF(Gibsonesque Rail Fletcher),...I want....
>> ^BoneRemake:
>> ^chicchorea:
With the energy demonstrated, except for shot to temple at close range perhaps, not lethal.
Still, with refinement....

I formally disagree.
You can poison tip the end, give it a barb or two, assemble some fashion of exploding tip.
Or make the projectile more sleek and pointed to go through or between a rib.
or bleed out... gangrene..
lots of ways to die from this thing, I wish not to count thee ways though.

LMFAO...cafe everywhere.

Of course, a GRF(Gibsonesque Rail Fletcher),...I want....
>> ^BoneRemake:

>> ^chicchorea:
With the energy demonstrated, except for shot to temple at close range perhaps, not lethal.
Still, with refinement....

I formally disagree.
You can poison tip the end, give it a barb or two, assemble some fashion of exploding tip.
Or make the projectile more sleek and pointed to go through or between a rib.
or bleed out... gangrene..
lots of ways to die from this thing, I wish not to count thee ways though.

>> ^chicchorea:

With the energy demonstrated, except for shot to temple at close range perhaps, not lethal.
Still, with refinement....


I formally disagree.

You can poison tip the end, give it a barb or two, assemble some fashion of exploding tip.

Or make the projectile more sleek and pointed to go through or between a rib.

or bleed out... gangrene..

lots of ways to die from this thing, I wish not to count thee ways though.

I was actually (perhaps in a naive way) hoping for the capacitors to become so full that the energy created from the magnetic field would be enough to rip apart a toaster. The projectile shattered not only the toaster's glass, but also my dreams...

>> ^Drachen_Jager:

Toys like this are the biggest problem the US military faces. It's easy for people in congress to push crap like this through for billions of dollars while their campaign supporters rake in the bucks. It's so much harder to scam taxpayers for billions every year when you're actually expected to deliver a product! That's why armoured humvees and soldier training take a back seat to stuff like this that will probably never be used on a battlefield.



I think that there is much merit in the points you made.

However, I submit that the weapons utility may indeed see field application. Tank mounted eventually perhaps, but base protection from airborne assault more likely sooner. Moreover, within the Phalanx role protecting ships as a replacement to present projectile hardware or as adjunct resource.

This is corollary development to the airborne missile defense technology that is being tested as well.

Energy weaponry has tbeen a dream of more than the sci-fi crowd for how long. It is inevitable is it not?

He takes care of prostitutes with his projectile jism.. "faster than a speeding bullet"

Awful mess that.

Well, for every tracer round you see there are regular bullets too.

I wouldn't be standing around when tracers can be seen, because there are other projectiles in the air too.

If they are using the force they probably have a reduced ability to deflect projectiles, so they use the force judiciously