What are Coil Guns?

Coil Gun is a type of electromagnetic weapon capable of launching projectiles with extremely high speed in the blink of an eye.

What are Coil Guns?

About Coil Guns:

  • It is a type of electromagnetic weapon capable of launching projectiles with extremely high speed in the blink of an eye.
  • They are also known as Gauss guns or magnetic accelerators. 
  • It operates on the principle of electromagnetic induction, applying the principles of electromagnetism to propel a projectile.
  • How does it Works?
    • Coil guns feature a series of coils arranged along the barrel of the gun, each one constituting a stage. 
    • Each coil is energised one after another to create a magnetic field that can levitate and propel a projectile forward.
    • The projectile typically stays suspended in the centre of the coil during launch. 
    • The larger a coil gun, the better its ability to fire projectiles similar to those fired by traditional artillery. 
  • Projectile:
    • The projectile used in a coil gun is typically a ferrous or magnetic object, such as a steel ball or a specially designed ferromagnetic projectile. T
    • This projectile needs to have magnetic properties to interact with the electromagnetic fields generated by the coils.
  • Advantages over traditional artillery:
    • Higher launch speeds and a shorter preparation time. 
    • Coil guns do not use gunpowder or other chemical propellants, which means they produce no combustion byproducts.
    • High Precision: They can be highly accurate due to the precise control over the electromagnetic coils.
    • Low Recoil: They have much lower recoil compared to firearms.

 


Q1) What is Electromagnetism?

Electromagnetism is a branch of physics that deals with the study of the electromagnetic force, which is one of the four fundamental forces of nature. It encompasses the interaction between electric fields and magnetic fields and how they influence the behavior of charged particles and objects.

Source: Chinese navy is testing the most powerful coil gun ever built: Details

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