Railguns

A railgun is a linear motor device typically designed as a weapon, that uses electromagnetic force to launch high velocity projectiles. The projectile normally does not contain explosives, instead relying on the projectile's high speed, mass, and kinetic energy to inflict damage. The railgun uses a pair of parallel conductors (rails), along which a sliding armature is accelerated by the electromagnetic effects of a current that flows down one rail, into the armature and then back along the other rail.

Railgun technology can come in all shapes and sizes, from personal firearms to anti-aircraft emplacements and up to starship class weapons systems.