how do railguns work

[TheBigFlush]

I'm sure that it'd be possible to make tracer rounds which glow in a vacuum. It'd just be a different type of round.

Oh, of course; I just meant "standard", currently existing tracers.

[Morrolan]

I'm not a doctor (nor am I a ham sandwich), and obviously it's just for effect on the show, but wouldn't tracer rounds not glow in a vacuum? Don't they rely on air friction? I may be completely wrong.

I don't think a vacuum would be a problem. I believe a tracer round is made of phosphorus or magnesium, and ignited inside the barrel upon firing. It's not friction, but a chemical reaction.

[TheBigFlush]

Yeah, a quick wikipedia check shows that it's not using friction. But hey, like I said, I'm not a ham sandwich or anything...

[Agent_Dark]

i've wonderd for a while now just what s a railgun and how does it work ?

step 1. press trigger
step 2. pew pew

[sg8man]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7f_9SNJ-xQ

Have a look at this, a gatling gun being fired at dusk from a helicopter. Note the yellow tracer and the laser like appearance of the bursts, a bit like the SGA railguns.

Very good point. And very cool.

[Morrolan]

Yeah, a quick wikipedia check shows that it's not using friction. But hey, like I said, I'm not a ham sandwich or anything...

It's not made just for a cool effect for the show. The tracer rounds really do look like that.

[FreakyMcD]

Here's how current rail gun technology stands.

http://www.dailytech.com/BAE+Sports+...rticle9791.htm

[from_orion]

Tracer rounds are very important for aiming and moving targets like in the Siege, but not as important when fired by computer targeting at another ship from a ship.