Sciencepalooza

[UrKungFuSux]

Hey there guys! I have this science fair project coming up, and I am thinking of several ideas. Of course, this is just a concept and a work in progress, I was hoping I could get some help. My idea is to set up several electro magnets for a magnetic catapult. It begins with a magnetic "launch pad" which will have a certain charge. Then, another object, with the same charge will be placed on it. The pad's electromagnet will be turned on, and it will force the object forward. Then, the object will fly through several hoops that also have magnets in them, pushing/pulling the object through, and then sending it out the continue its trip. Finally, the object will land within A: another electromagnetic field, decelerating it enough so it will come down gently, or B: (which is more likely), a bowl of Jello. Yeah, it sounds really weird, but this is really just the concept, and it's in its infancy. Although the idea is subject to change at anytime. Any input would be appreciated. :-)

[Con]

Don't forget to somehow reverse the polarity of the hoops as the projectile passes through.

[Rob Oplawar]

It's gonna be really hard to calibrate it just right for whatever object you decide to launch to go through all the accelerator hoops. And when I say hard I mean don't try. If anything you'll need some sort of guide rail to keep it on track, otherwise Chaos theory dictates your projectile will be out of control. Unless you constructed your electro magnets well enough to shape the magnetic field in such a way as to guide the projectile, but as you mentioned charge in describing your magnetic launch pad, I think you might want to try something a little simpler.

Also don't listen to me cause I'm an arrogant know-it-all jerk.

[UrKungFuSux]

Yeah. I'm still trying to figure that out. I might need to go get a switch for it. If i could just get it so that one side of the ring is the negative charge, and the other positive, so that it pulls on one side, and as it clears into the other, it gets pushed.

To Rob's Post
Yeah, I might add a rail for guidance, but my other idea was a plastic tubing, so that the entire projectile doesn't go completely erratic.

I wanted to try making a live version experiment on the spot, as well as creating something ingame that is similar to the experiment. Although, as of yet I have absolutely no idea how to do that. This is just a slim idea though.
Thanks for the help guys.

[Con]

Having one side of the ring positive and the other negative won't do you any good.

edit: I'm 80% sure, don't quote me on it :|

[Leiukemia]

I really don't see this working. Too complex, and probably expensive to do. I'd look for something else. I'd think it would work better to just have a catapult throw a peice of metal through the hoops so you don't have to worry about the polarities. But you would still need to figure out how to get one magnet to turn off and the next to turn on in the same time it would fly. And that's still rediculous. I think you should find a new project. I remember my science project from elementary school. I did it on one of those maglev trains when they were first being talked about. I had some plexiglass rails, put 2 magnet tracks down on the inside. Then made a little train thing with magnets inset on the bottom (I made it out of this weird foam stuff that you can mould then it hardens sort of like playdough except really light). Worked pretty good, you could push it and it would float along.

[UrKungFuSux]

Yeah, but it isn't a solo project. It's me and my friend. So, Conscars, how about I simplify it a bit. A tube with 2 wires running down, and a launch magnet at the bottom. The launcher pushes the object, which is also magnetized down the tube, and it will be repelled on both sides by the wire. Oh right. + Jello.:D Basically it's a maglev train, but just with the whole launch pad modification. Does that sound stupid? And Leiukemia, why would it be expensive?

[Tweek]

make a gaussrifle with magnets. i did that once. could shoot ballbearings right trough a 2 CM thick pane of wood.

srsly hardcore.
getting magnets powerfull enough is going to cost you a bit though.

[UrKungFuSux]

There are "violence" guidelines. Also, I was going to use electromagnets. I've toyed around with that for a few years, and I also have some really great magnets, but my teacher gave a presentation today, and it said, although she did not verbally say so, "Stay away from... Electromagnets, as well as coke and plants in soil." Oh well. I'll see. Thanks for all the input. Although, I would love making a gauss cannon. :D

[Aerowyn]

Oh come on, why deal with electromagnets when you can just make an RC car run off a potato or something?

[UrKungFuSux]

:eyesroll: Kill joy.

[n00b1n8R]

ignore her.

she's a girl and therefore can't comprehend the coolness of using magnets to accelerate small peices of metal. http://sa.tweek.us/emots/images/emot-colbert.gif

[UrKungFuSux]

^ Indeed. Anyways, my friend also wants to try "What wing is better for a fighter plane, swept forward, back, or delta.

[ExAm]

All magnets have opposing poles. The poles would cancel each other out and screw up the projectile's path, and most likely slow it and toss it out of the loop.

[UrKungFuSux]

Oh that's right, what with the wires. So, I'd just use the opposite pole? Unless we are on completely different pages.

Edit: Although, I'm not sure about this. Maybe I should talk this out a bit more with my partner. Or get a new one. He's a bit clueless. Anyways, whatever the result, if it's cool, I'll make sure to post a pic/ video.

[ExAm]

Both poles will be acting on your projectile at the same time, essentially. You'd need carefully timed electromagnets, as mentioned before. Like a railgun. I mean precise down to the nanosecond, and synced up perfectly to propel the object along the rails, or whatever you feel like sending it along.

[Aerowyn]

Like I said. You guys are all worrying about the polarity of the electromagnets.

Potatoes, people.

POTATOES. Boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew.

[Rob Oplawar]

mmm potatoes.
You could try a variation of the simple magnetic bb ruler gauss gun. The physics of that balance everything out and it's very difficult to get it to not work. The stuff you're talking about is the opposite- you'd have to work very hard to balance everything properly in order for it to work.

[UrKungFuSux]

Yeah, I know. Anyways, I gotta focus on math for the moment, and will get back to you guys with more details.

[Off topic] Happy B-day to me! [/off topic]

[ExAm]

Like I said. You guys are all worrying about the polarity of the electromagnets.

Potatoes, people.

POTATOES. Boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew.I prefer lemons, m'self.

[UrKungFuSux]

:eyesroll: What is with you and potatoes? FINE! I'll make a potato powered gauss cannon.

[n00b1n8R]

NO DO THIS D:
http://www.pictures.vaty.net/uploaded_images/tesla-798903.jpg

[UrKungFuSux]

As fun as that looks, erhm...
Where are you getting these pikatures?

[Rob Oplawar]

aha, now does the :tinfoil: hat seem crazy to you? Faraday cage for my brainwaves!
Your science fair project should be to wear a tinfoil hat to observe how well it protects you from the radiation from cell phones. You didn't get cancer? Aha, so it works!

[p0lar_bear]

NO DO THIS D:
http://www.pictures.vaty.net/uploaded_images/tesla-798903.jpg

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner.

[UrKungFuSux]

Awesome. How do we make it work?

[Emmzee]

It's gonna be really hard to calibrate it just right for whatever object you decide to launch to go through all the accelerator hoops. And when I say hard I mean don't try. If anything you'll need some sort of guide rail to keep it on track, otherwise Chaos theory dictates your projectile will be out of control. Unless you constructed your electro magnets well enough to shape the magnetic field in such a way as to guide the projectile, but as you mentioned charge in describing your magnetic launch pad, I think you might want to try something a little simpler.

Also don't listen to me cause I'm an arrogant know-it-all jerk.
I2kgwJ2NmGI

[n00b1n8R]

I didn't actually see where it fired though D:

E: oh I see :O

[ExAm]

Bad sound sync.

[UrKungFuSux]

Sorry for the long bump, but the project has changed, so I felt I needed some help, seeing as how it has to do with halo, science, and yeah. So, Instead of actually making a magnetic cannon, why not use an actual railgun? So, we've worked with them before, and know the basic gist of how to make it. But, We wanted to make an animation, and figure out how to put it in a video format. I considered running it through halo, but have no idea where to begin. Ideas? I was thinking for something like a grav lift or explosion, to show the general idea of it, and model scenery (the rail gun) and then import it. Any input is appreciated.