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Homemade Gauss Gun

Posted by michael on from the physics-is-phun dept.

bonzoesc writes: "I'm sure we all remember getting owned by some railgun-wielding kid in Quake2. Ever wanted a way to get back? Enter the Homemade Gauss Rifle. Requires wooden ruler with groove down the middle to serve as the rail, steel balls that can roll down the groove to use as projectiles, and magnets to store and redirect energy. Physics is fun!"

1 of 243 comments (clear)

  1. Circular track explanation is flawed.. by rufusdufus · · Score: 1, Redundant

    The explanation for why a circular track won't make a perpetual motion machine has some misleading statements in it. In several places he talks about "energy to be had from this magnet". However, none of the fixed magnets imparts energy to the ball.
    So where does the energy come from? Why, from your hand of course! The process of placing the balls into their starting position imparts the energy.