Navy's Record-Breaking Railgun Shot

technically a gauss gun is a coil gun not a rail gun

Theoretically, there is no real limit to the speed of a projectile fired by a rail gun/gauss gun. The problem of course is amount of power required and the intense heat/friction generated by the gun and air resistance against projectile. Assuming a gun could be built powerful enough, and able to withstand the heat, it would be possible to fire a projectile at near light speeds in space where there is no air resistance.

@wildbill6976 yeah, the air friction will do to it what happens when space shuttles reenter.. but light speed is the limit, because it takes an exponential amount of energy to obtain a higher speed reaching the speed of light.

The flames you are seeing is from the heat generated by the friction of the projectile that ignites the dust in the air.

Though people do not generally think of of it, air has alot of substance.

Props on propeller aircraft grab the air; not blow you to your destination.

@brandonchpr Generally people who don't even realize they are typing in caps also don't know enough about internet culture to associate caps with "shouting." I too find caps annoying, but I wouldn't go around calling internet newbies morons for "shouting."

I never called him a moron. I just found it funny how the saying fit here.

um wtf this is a missile

@searchoverload8 Look at the logo on the target...do you really think the Navy doesn't know what it's shooting? It's a railgun.

o.o

neat