Magnetic Cannon: the physics of the Gauss rifle

Arsène Chemin (1) , Pauline Besserve (1) , Aude Caussarieu (1) , Nicolas Taberlet (1) , Nicolas Plihon (1)

1 Phys-ENS - Laboratoire de Physique de l'ENS Lyon

The magnetic cannon is a simple device that converts magnetic energy into kinetic energy: when a steel ball with low initial velocity impacts a chain made of a magnet followed by a few other steel balls, the last ball of the chain is ejected at a much larger velocity. The analysis of this spectacular device involves understanding of advanced magnetostatics, energy conversion and collision of solids. In this article, the phenomena at each step of the process are modeled to predict the final kinetic energy of the ejected ball as a function of a few parameters which can all be experimentally measured.

Domaines: Physique Classique [physics.class-ph]

Arsène Chemin, Pauline Besserve, Aude Caussarieu, Nicolas Taberlet, Nicolas Plihon. Magnetic Cannon: the physics of the Gauss rifle. American Journal of Physics, 2017, 85 (7), pp.495-502. ⟨10.1119/1.4979653⟩. ⟨hal-02408779⟩