Gauss guns & recoil (was RE: Low Tech Scenarios)

In message <895681298.119901.0@kryten.acs.bolton.ac.uk>
> Thomas Barclay <Thomas.Barclay@sofkin.ca> wrote:

> Except that if you want the high velocities for penetration and KE

I know little about guns, but a bit about maths. Presumably the recoil comes
from the momentum of the round? If you can have higher velocities but lower
mass rounds in a guass rifle (which always seems to be the idea of them in
SF), then the momentum can be lower (mv) but the kinetic energy (0.5mvv) can
still be equivalent or higher.

I think.

> At 13:05 5/23/98, Samuel Penn wrote:

Also, would the velocities be *that* much higher for small arms? All one would
bee looking for is enough KE to defeat personal (and perhaps) powered
armor.... not the hypervelocities being tested in current designs for tank
main guns.

Offhand, it seems to me the advantage of gauss small arms would be the reduced
ammunition weight, assuming of course, the the weapon itself can be made light
enough.

Those who are interested in continuing this, please reply to email.... I'm
enjoying it, but we've probably tried the patience of the list enough.