Did you ever hear someone saying, “That’s not rocket science?” Well, today, it is. Jet engines are fascinating feats of engineering that epitomize modern aviation. They harness propulsion principles to power aircraft across vast distances at incredible speeds. But how exactly do these powerful machines work?
Before we move on to the specifics of jet engines, it’s intriguing to consider the history of aviation propulsion. Early attempts at creating engines that could propel an aircraft date back to the 19th century. These innovative efforts laid the groundwork for the sophisticated propulsion systems we rely on today.
How jet engines work
Newton’s third law is fundamental to understanding jet propulsion. In a jet engine, air is taken in at the front, compressed and mixed with fuel, ignited, and expelled out the back at high speed. This high-speed expulsion of gases creates an equal and opposite force that propels the aircraft forward. It’s a straightforward application of physics that results in impressive thrust and speed.
A jet engine has multiple key components, each playing a crucial role. The intake draws air into the engine, which a series of blades compresses. The compressed air then moves into the combustion chamber, which is mixed with fuel and ignited. The resulting explosion drives the turbines, which, in turn, power the compressor and the exhaust, expelling gases to produce thrust.
The process begins with air intake, which captures and directs airflow into the compressor. The compressor then increases the air pressure before it enters the combustion chamber. Here, fuel is injected and ignited, causing a high-energy explosion. The hot gases expand rapidly, driving the turbines and exiting through the exhaust nozzle at the rear, propelling the aircraft forward.
Practical demonstration featuring a see-through jet engine
A great YouTube video is available for those looking to see the internal workings of a jet engine in action. The video provides a clear view of a see-through jet engine, demonstrating the principles we’ve discussed in real-time. Watching this can offer a deeper understanding of how each component functions together to create thrust. Check out the video below.
YouTube: See-Through Jet Engine (with Matt Mikka)
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Photo credit: The feature image is symbolic and has been done by Yang Yu.
