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Megan Larsen

Physics 1010
Project Paper
April 12, 2014
For our class experiments we were told to choose an experiment that sounded interesting
to us and not to worry about if we didnt know how to do it at first. The experiment that stood
out to me overall was the Magnet Gun with Ball Bearings because I thought it would be
interesting to understand the inner workings of a gun. In this paper, I will go into more depth of
how exactly the experiment works and the positives/negatives of this experiment.
The Magnet Gun with Ball Bearings experiment is better known in the scientific
community as The Gaussian Gun. The core of a gauss gun consists of a single neodymium
magnet with several steel balls stuck to it. When another, single steel ball rolls towards the
magnet, the attractive force from the magnet accelerates this ball. The closer the ball gets to the
magnet, the stronger this acceleration force becomes. It impacts the magnet at a higher speed
than it was traveling before. When the impact occurs, the energy is transferred to the ball on the
opposite end, giving it a speed that is almost the same velocity as the first magnet, right at the
moment before impact.
Going along with how the experiment works, this project had positives and negatives
while in the process of creating it. Positives are that this particular project was easy on the wallet,
easily constructed, fun to create, and it I learned a lot about how guns and magnets work. The
negatives are that the neodymium magnets which I needed for this project could only be bought

online. Also, these magnets are prone to shattering, especially if you are having steel ball
bearings slam into the sides on it.
The experiment that stood out to me overall was the Magnet Gun with Ball Bearings
because I thought it would be interesting to understand the inner workings of a gun. In this paper,
I went into more depth of how exactly the experiment works and the positives/negatives of this
experiment. This experience gave me a better understanding of physics, also how magnets and
guns work.

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