PHYSICS PROJECT

ELECTROMAGNETIC
COIL GUN
SUBMITTED BY : ANSH BHARADWAJ
JALAJ DIXIT SIR
CLASS
: XII A
PRACTICAL TEACHER)
ROLL NUMBER : 6

SUBMITTED TO :
(PHYSICS

CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that ANSH
BHARADWAJ, a student of class XII-A
has successfully completed the
physics project work on the topic COIL
GUN under the guidance of MR. JALAJ
DIXIT ( physics practical Teacher )
during the year 2016-17 in partial
fulfillment of physics practical
examination conducted by AISSCE,
New Delhi.

Signature of external examiner

teacher

Signature of physics

INDEX
1

CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

INTRODUCTION

THEORY

PROCEDURE FOLLOWED

OBSERVATION

CONCLUSION

8. BIBLIOGRAPHY

ACKNOWLEDGEMEN
T
Primarily I would thank god for being able to
complete this project with success. Then I
would like to thank my principal FATHER
GEORGE V.J. and physics teacher Mr. JALAJ
DIXIT whose valuable guidance has been the
ones that helped me patch this project and
make it full proof success his suggestions and
his instructions has served as the major
contributor towards the completion of the
project.
Then I would like to thank my parents and
friends who have helped me with their
valuable suggestions and guidance has been
helpful in various phases of the completion of
the project.

Last but not the least I would like to thank

my classmates who have helped me a lot.

INTRODUCTION
A Coilgun or Gauss rifle is a type of projectile accelerator
consisting of one or more coils used
as electromagnets in the configuration of a linear
motor that accelerate a ferromagnetic or conducting
projectile to high velocity. In almost all coilgun
configurations, the coils and the gun barrel are arranged
on a common axis. It is not a rifle as the barrel is
not rifled. The name "Gauss" is in reference to Carl
Friedrich Gauss, who formulated mathematical
descriptions of the magnetic effect used by magnetic
accelerators.
Coilguns generally consist of one or more coils arranged
along a barrel, so the path of the accelerating projectile
lies along the central axis of the coils. The coils are
switched on and off in a precisely timed sequence,
causing the projectile to be accelerated quickly along
the barrel via magnetic forces. Some simple coilguns
concepts can use ferromagnetic projectiles or even
permanent magnet projectiles, most designs for high
velocities actually incorporate a coupled coil as part of
the projectile.

THEORY
A coilgun is a series of coils that are successively energized as a conductive projectile
made from magnetic material passes by them.

Each stage acts on similar principles to those of a solenoid. Current loops induce
magnetic flux through their center:

As the conductive projectile approaches the air-core current loops, two things happen:
the loop inductance increases and the projectile becomes magnetized. The
magnetized projectile is then attracted to the loop magnetic field, accelerating towards
it. As it approaches, inductance increases, completing a positive feedback loop such

that the pull on the projectile and magnetic field created by the loops increase.

This process reaches a peak when the projectile is completely enclosed by the coil,
where further travel decreases the loop's inductance. At this point, current through the
loop is abruptly turned off so the projectile won't be slowed down by its continued
attraction to the coil's magnetic field.

These are the basic physics principles by which a coil gun operates, which appears to be
what you are interested in. There are many practical implementations.

PROCEDURE
Step 1 Preparing the coils
Coils for the Coil Gun
Take the PVC pipe and cut it , to get a length of 30-40cm. After that, take the insulation
tape and wrap around the pipe from a distance of 1-2 inches from its end. Wrap the
insulation tape above the pipe in succession until it reaches a thickness of 4-5 mm. Next
do the same thing from a distance of 3-4 cm from the first wrapping.Now take the
copper wire and after leaving some slack on the beginning, start wrapping around the
pipe, the wrappings are to be tight and close to each other with no gaps between them.
After wrapping the first layer, cover it with insulation tape, then start wrapping on top of
it for the second layer. The copper wires should be wrapped side to side in the same
direction , either clockwise/anti clockwise. Repeat the process for 6-7 layers. For
multiple coils, a spacing of 3 cm is required from the first coil . After preparing the coil,
using sand paper sand the ends of the coil to remove the coating , to make them
conducting.
STEP 2 -

CONNECTING COILS

Connect the coils in parallel connections.

Step 3-Projectiles and testing of coil gun

Projectiles for the Coil Gun
Here, any ferro-magnetic material based object can be used as a projectile, usually nails
and bolts. I have found using bolts to be the most effective, due to the greater surface
area at their heads.The acceleration and distance travelled by the projectile depends on
the projectile you choose, usually bolts of lengths at least equal to that of the coil are
used