Gaussian Gun

[JAK]

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Strong electrical charges can reorient the atoms of the iron bar, lining them up so that each particle's magnetic energy is oriented like it's neighbors. This orientation makes their magnetic charge additive. This implies that science can predict an upper limit to the achievable magnetic force from different materials. I think it has to do with the density of the solid and how good of a conductor of electricity it is - whatever the reason, it has to do with the inherent qualities of the material and it's atomic structure.
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This brings an interesting thought to mind.

If LASERs become powerful by getting the photons to go the same way, would there be a way to enhance the magnetic property of a metal - perhaps a super magnet? Atlas, you note that the "randomization" of the electrons is significant to the magnetic power. It would seem that extreme "organization" would, thus, enhance the effect. Further, this might not be possible with just any metal, but certain metals may have extreme limits we have not yet discovered.

Thoughts?

 

[Atlas]

If LASERs become powerful by getting the photons to go the same way, would there be a way to enhance the magnetic property of a metal - perhaps a super magnet? Atlas, you note that the "randomization" of the electrons is significant to the magnetic power. It would seem that extreme "organization" would, thus, enhance the effect. Further, this might not be possible with just any metal, but certain metals may have extreme limits we have not yet discovered.

Thoughts?

It's my understanding that the random orientations of the atoms end up canceling each other's magnetic fields such that an ordinary iron bar exhibits no measurable magnetic poles. Extreme organization give a metal it's measurable magnetic properties. There are metals that do exhibit "super" magnetic propeties compared to iron. I guess I assumed it was just a pure numbers thing. Whatever metal could be coaxed into aligning the most atoms would yield the largest force.

The true super magnets are electromagnets. Like lasers with a stream of photons, electromagnets involve a stream of electrons that generates a magnetic field into a core that seems to focus the magnetism almost like a lens. That is, if you wrap wire around a nail and pass current through the wire the magnetic lines of force compress into the narrow internal channel of the nail nicely compared with the larger external return paths.

I guess it would surprise me to find a metal that exhibited a super effect as a permanent magnent but I never would have guessed that light could be coaxed to have the properties of a cannon blast, blowing holes through thick solid materials. Since I believe the maximum atomic magnetic effect is being caused by the atom's own charge, a super magnet would have to find a way to supercharge each atom's electric field.

I should probably read up on magnetism again. I was intensely interested in maglev, at one time, but as a mechanism to fire packages into space from the surface of the Earth or moon. That was a few years back now.

 

[Dragon]

Yes! I think I'm caught up now. Resetting the balls is necessary for each new shot just as pulling the elastic bands back on your slingshot adds the the necessary potential energy to the system for each new shot. Like raising a ball 5 feet off the floor before dropping it. The human being is setting the system in a high potential energy state and the release triggers a change from potential to kinetic.

Exactly - good analogies.

 

[BillyJoe]

Well, thanks to everyones' contribution, I guess we're now all up to speed ( ) with this little exercise.

BJ
(Hmmm.....I don't think I've got that apostrophe right have I? )

 

[jmercer]

Yes! I think I'm caught up now. Resetting the balls is necessary for each new shot just as pulling the elastic bands back on your slingshot adds the the necessary potential energy to the system for each new shot. Like raising a ball 5 feet off the floor before dropping it. The human being is setting the system in a high potential energy state and the release triggers a change from potential to kinetic.

Thanks - I see it now. Pulling the trigger ball away from the magnet and all the other actions makes more sense when you add it up.

Good explanations, and I appreciate the assist!

 

[BillyJoe]

Yep, ALL up to speed.