Magnetic Accelerators

Magnetic accelerators are primarily used for two purposes: transport of raw materials from mines or storage facilities into space, and as kinetic weapons systems. Weaponised magnetic accelerators come in two main forms: coilguns, and railguns. Railguns function through the use of electromagnetic "rails" between which are placed ferromagnetic projectiles commonly known as kinetic darts, which are thus accelerated to high speeds by the rails. Coilguns contain a series of electromagnetic "coils" which are rapidly turned on and off in sequence to accelerate a kinetic dart. Coilguns can achieve greater power and range than railguns, but are slower firing and consume more power. As railguns can simply be powered on and have projectiles fed through them, they make much more effective rapidfire weapons, as opposed to coilguns normally functioning as longer-range, high-powered weapons.