What was once thought to be just science fiction is now, very close, a reality. The Electromagnetic(EM) Railgun being developed by BAE Systems for the Office of Naval Research is sure to change the landscape of future wars. From its cost effectiveness, devastating power, and a myriad of other benefits the EM Railgun is something special.
The best way to wrap your head around what an Electromagnetic Railgun is would be to understand the basic idea of how it works. Two rails are electrically charged while sitting parallel to each other. The projectile connects the two rails together creating what is called Lorentz force. The result is an electromagnetic force that sets the projectile in motion at speeds of up to 5,600mph. The amount of power applied along with the size of the projectile help determine how far and fast the projectile will travel. The current aim for the Navy is an EM Railgun that operates at up to 32 mega-joules and has a range of 110 nautical miles.
How fast is 5,600mph? For starters it’s over seven times the speed of sound and according to CBS News(David Mar...
* In case you are curious, the engine rpm got up to about 7000 rpm and the track speed got up to about 60 mph or more during this clip. I supported the track with a stand and ran the throttle while an observer ran the camera.
History of U.S. Army Weapons | Military.com. (n.d.). History of U.S. Army Weapons | Military.com. Retrieved April 12, 2014, from http://www.military.com/army-birthday/history-of-us-army-weapons.html
...Suzy. Remote Weaponry: The Ethical Implications. Vol. 25. N.A.: Society For Applied Philosophy, 2008. Web. 17 Apr. 2014. .
Melton, Jack W. and Lawrence E. Pawl. “Basic Facts Concerning Artillery.” Civil War Artillery. 2009. 17 January 2010. .
A majority of weapons used in World War II were improved weapons from World War II. Most guns increased in power and abilities. In World War II people thought that pistols were useless but this was proved wrong due to the fact that the U.S. Mi...
...ccomplishments. As the years progress, just as they have in the past, so will military technology. Not more 80 years ago, the United States was just learning how to se machine guns. Not more than 60 years ago, the United States was just learning how to use tanks and artillery. Nowadays, the US military has become the leading war machine in all aspects of warfare including weapons, computer technology and biological as well as chemical warfare. God only knows what advancements are to come our way.
In the world, there are currently over 140 nuclear-powered ships, each of which is powered by more than 180 miniaturized nuclear reactors. Although most of them are submarines, they can also range from icebreakers to aircraft carriers. While there have been many people to contribute to the research and development of nuclear propulsion, none of them have been more influential than Admiral Hyman George Rickover, known as the “Father of the Nuclear Navy.” Accomplished in his naval career, he was a staunch defender of freedom from all who sought to undermine the sovereignty of the United States, or who would threaten our security. Though a controversial issue at the time, Admiral Rickover was passionate in his insistence for the development of
Artillery generally falls into three basic categories; guns, howitzers and mortars. The main difference between them being the trajectory of the round fire. A gun has a high muzzle velocity and a very flat trajectory. Normally a gun is used in a direct fire mode where the target can be seen and penetration is desirable. Good targets for a gun would be things like brick or earth forts, ships, buildings, and targets in tree lines.
It can also fire 700-900 rounds per minute while in fully auto mode. The M-16 also had a secondary attachment called the M-203 which could fire a grenade up to 400m with a 5m casualty radius” (Meyerson). The U. S. Soldiers also used the M-60 light machine gun that could be mounted on tanks and helicopters and used as an artillery weapon. They also used the “105 mm Howitzer that shot explosive shrapnel bombs that have a fire rate of 3 to 8 rounds a minute” (History.com). The Howitzer was also used like the M 60 machine gun by being mounted to tanks and helicopters.
These kinds of weapons were impractical for military use, but attracted many people to the arms race for weapons that could sweep the battlefield. “They had limitations in practice, among them slow re...
It was originally assumed that the SDI program was a virtually perfect defense against a large intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, attacks, which required very competent weapons. An ICBM has three levels of flight; the boost phase, the midcourse phase, and the terminal phase. With the SDI program, a space-based directed energy, or a laser, weapon would be used to destroy ICBM’s in the boost phase. Ground-based, space-based lasers or continental weapons could be used to destroy ICBM’s in midcourse, and ground-based beam weapons and missile interceptors could be used to destroy ICBM’s in the terminal phase. But as the goals of the program have evolved toward more realistic ambitions, the requirements for highly competent weapons diminished. Therefore, the initial focus on space-based directed energy weapons gradually shifted toward interest in ground-based kinetic energy weapons.
Shooting is a popular activity and it is enjoyed by many people, so much so that it is also done at a competitive level. Although many people may have shot a firearm of some sort, few of those people actually realize how much physics is involved with the shot.
Today the M2 is used for more than just anti-aircraft. Since very little changes have been made to this remarkable weapon system, military researchers have been able to maximize the capabilities and uses on the battle field. This weapon is used both in the offense and defense and can be used effectively to engage light armored vehicles, low flying aircraft, boats, and personnel. The M2 can either be ground or vehicle mounted giving our military unlimited uses of this weapon. This weapon system has been mounted on numerous light armored vehicles, air craft, water craft, as well as tanks.
Small arms technology has been used in some capacity since the thirteenth century. It has helped to change the face of the world and of warfare. They are so engrained in our culture it is odd to think of a world without them. However, it is important to remember that firearms were not always as efficient as they are now. This allows us to take what are essentially tools of warfare and appreciate them for the marvelous feat of engineering that they are.
Useful for the military, projectile motion can now be used for a number of weapons; which is when an object (like a bullet or cannon) is thrown-projected- and mov...