Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by Protostome 199 days ago
What am i missing here? physics hackers, please explain.

does their claim of reaching 8 km/s in earth's atomsphere make sense? how is it possible without an insane amount of energy?

Besides, how are you going to deliver this energy in such a short time without frying the entire system, we're talking probably 1000A+ currents flowing in insane voltages.

You'd rather use TNT or some high explosive, that's what is usually done with artillery, and even then you don't get close to 8 km/s as far as i know.
2 comments
LargoLasskhyfv 199 days ago
I'd guess it will be somewhere between https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_Aircraft_Launc... and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StarTram

We'll see. Or not.

link
jfengel 198 days ago
No, 8 km/s doesn't make sense.

It's really hard to tell from the press release, but it sounds as if they're talking about a railgun kinda thing. Which has been discussed before, and it keeps not working out. The strains on the object are too great.

link