Jet engines work by sucking in air, compressing it, mixing it with fuel, igniting the mixture, and then blasting the hot exhaust gases out the back to create thrust. This process, based on Newton's Third Law of Motion (for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction), propels the aircraft forward.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
- Intake: The engine sucks in a large volume of air through the intake at the front.
- Compression: This air is then compressed by a series of rotating blades called a compressor. This dramatically increases the air pressure and temperature. The compressor can increase the pressure by 3 to 12 times its original value.
- Combustion: The highly compressed air is then mixed with fuel in a combustion chamber. This mixture is ignited, resulting in a rapid increase in temperature (typically 1,100°F to 1,300°F). This burning process creates hot, expanding gases.
- Turbine: The hot, high-pressure gases then pass through a turbine. The turbine is a series of fan blades that are turned by the force of the gases. The turbine is connected to the compressor by a shaft, providing the power to rotate the compressor blades.
- Exhaust: Finally, the hot exhaust gases are expelled out of the back of the engine through a nozzle. This expulsion creates thrust, propelling the aircraft forward.
In summary:
- Air is drawn in.
- Air is compressed.
- Fuel is added and ignited.
- Hot gases turn a turbine.
- Exhaust gases are expelled, creating thrust.
The greater the mass and velocity of the exhaust gases, the greater the thrust produced by the engine. Different types of jet engines (turbojets, turbofans, turboprops) achieve this thrust in slightly different ways, but the fundamental principles remain the same.
