M Fnord Wrote:HRogge Wrote:I have expected this post, but there is a little tiny difference in this contribution. Try to calculate the energy of the weapon system if you like, I bet you will not be able to do so (unless I missed something).
It wasn't the "1% lightspeed" that got your cannon called out, it was the "kilotons of TNT per shot".
Actually, it was both. Cobalt was right to call this out. So yeah, back to the drawing board.
So what is an acceptable speed for a low projectile mass coilgun?
The weapon CG suggested had a muzzle velocity of ~ 0.1% c, a projectile mass of 5kg and a suggested fire rate of once every six seconds.
The thing I had in mind for the story has a much smaller projectile mass (less than 1/1000 of CGs weapon) and is a one shot weapon system.
(edit)
But the exact speed is not even that important to the story, only that its insane fast and because of this doesn't dissipate before it hits the moon. Maybe I will remove the speed number entirely.
The other problems of the story are more important.