thrust
Quick Summary
Thrust is a force that propels an object forward. In the context of propulsion, it's generated by expelling mass in the opposite direction, a principle rooted in Newton's second law of motion. This force can be produced by various mechanisms, such as jet engines, which accelerate air or gas to create thrust, or propellers, which move air or water. The efficiency of thrust generation is often related to matching the velocity of the expelled mass to the object's speed, aiming for a minimal difference to maximize propulsive efficiency.123
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propeller…or air, a propeller produces thrust owing to aerodynamic or fluid forces acting upon the blades and gives forward motion to a ship or aircraft. In Great Britain the propeller of an airplane or the rotor of a helicopter is commonly called an airscrew.
Read More…or air, a propeller produces thrust owing to aerodynamic or fluid forces acting upon the blades and gives forward motion to a ship or aircraft. In Great Britain the propeller of an airplane or the rotor of a helicopter is commonly called an airscrew.
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air-cushion machinePower plants…in reverse, a standard aircraft propeller designed to operate best at higher speeds is inefficient. Hovercraft propellers can be fixed or mounted on swiveling pylons, which allow the craft to be maneuvered quite accurately, independently of the rudders on which fixed propellers rely. Rudder effectiveness depends to some extent on…
Read More…in reverse, a standard aircraft propeller designed to operate best at higher speeds is inefficient. Hovercraft propellers can be fixed or mounted on swiveling pylons, which allow the craft to be maneuvered quite accurately, independently of the rudders on which fixed propellers rely. Rudder effectiveness depends to some extent on…
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airplaneAerodynamics… has on the aircraft; and thrust, the forward-acting force provided by the propulsion system (or, in the case of unpowered aircraft, by using gravity to translate altitude into speed). Drag and weight are elements inherent in any object, including an aircraft. Lift and thrust are artificially created elements devised to…
Read More… has on the aircraft; and thrust, the forward-acting force provided by the propulsion system (or, in the case of unpowered aircraft, by using gravity to translate altitude into speed). Drag and weight are elements inherent in any object, including an aircraft. Lift and thrust are artificially created elements devised to…
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helicopterPrinciples of flight and operation…by the forces of lift, thrust, weight, and drag, its mode of flight induces additional effects.
Read More…by the forces of lift, thrust, weight, and drag, its mode of flight induces additional effects.
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airplaneThrust controlsThe pilot controls thrust by adjustment of the control levers for the engine. In an aircraft with a reciprocating engine these can consist of a throttle, mixture control (to control the ratio of fuel and air going to the engine), and propeller control…
Read MoreThe pilot controls thrust by adjustment of the control levers for the engine. In an aircraft with a reciprocating engine these can consist of a throttle, mixture control (to control the ratio of fuel and air going to the engine), and propeller control…
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airplanePropulsion systemsThe engines used to provide thrust may be of several types.
Read MoreThe engines used to provide thrust may be of several types.
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history of flightThe generation and application of power: the problem of propulsionAt the beginning of the 19th century, sustained powered heavier-than-air flight remained an impossibility because of the lack of suitable power plants. The level of technology that would permit even limited powered flight lay over a century in the future. Clockwork mechanisms and other…
Read MoreAt the beginning of the 19th century, sustained powered heavier-than-air flight remained an impossibility because of the lack of suitable power plants. The level of technology that would permit even limited powered flight lay over a century in the future. Clockwork mechanisms and other…
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