Thrust is the force applied on a surface in a direction perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to that surface. It often results from the expulsion of mass, as seen in rockets and jet engines.
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Thrust is directly related to Newton's Third Law: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
In rocketry, thrust is generated by expelling exhaust gases at high speed in the opposite direction.
The magnitude of thrust can be calculated using $F = ma$, where $F$ is the thrust force, $m$ is the mass flow rate, and $a$ is the acceleration of the exhaust gas.
Airplanes use jet engines or propellers to generate thrust to overcome drag and achieve forward motion.
Thrust must overcome both gravitational forces and drag for a rocket or aircraft to accelerate.
Review Questions
How does Newton's Third Law explain the generation of thrust in a rocket?
What are two primary sources of thrust in aviation?
How can you calculate the magnitude of thrust using mass flow rate and exhaust velocity?