Rail-Gun

From Earth Central

A projectile weapon based upon electromagnetic propulsion, specifically the Lorentz force. Typical rail-guns have a ferromagnetic projectile (sometimes a nonconducting projectile and a conducting armature on which the projectile fits is substituted) that sits in between two conducting rails. Upon application of electricity, current begins to flow through the rails and the conducting projectile/armature. As current flows, the Lorentz force accelerates projectile down the rails. Whereupon the projectile leaves the rails, electrical contact is broken until the next projectile is loaded. Rail-gun muzzle velocities range anywhere from Mach 5 for personal weapons to high fractions of c for shipborne weaponry. When used en masse or in conjunction with missiles/lasers/APWs, they can crack open Prador exotic metal alloy armour.