Experimental Test of the Normal and Retrograde Railgun Accelerators
Francisco J. M?ller
Keywords: Experiment, Railgun, Retrograde Acceleration, Acceleration
Aluminum and steel rods were used to demonstrate the normal (forward moving) and
abnormal (retrograde moving) railgun accelerators respectively. As horizontal rails, two
bronze rods were used about 3 feet long each. At one end of each rod a car battery
was clamped to electrify the system, which became a closed circuit at the moment of
laying the aluminum (or steel) rod across the two rails. Characteristically the aluminum
rod advanced in the forward direction as expected (away from the battery bridge)
whereas the steel (magnetizable) rod advanced backwardly.
When the same system is setup vertically, however, and the transversal rod is suspended on a balance (without rolling), no retrograde behavior is observed for the steel rod. Both, aluminum and steel rods, moved in the forward (expected) direction. The conclusion is that rolling of the steel rod is essential to observe its retrograde motion. A discussion is given in search for explanations of the observed effects.
