RUNNER HEAD: BEGINNERS GUIDE TO PROPULSION

Beginners Guide to Propulsion

Amy Nguyen and Sidney Boakye
09/20/2016
Governor's School @ Innovation Park
Dr. Psaker

BEGINNERS GUIDE TO PROPULSION

Abstract (Summary)
A propulsion system is one that produces thrust, or a mechanical force generated to move
an object through the air. This concept employs Newtons Third Law which states that for every
action, there is an equal, opposite reaction. Thus, the propulsion system also employs the usage
of drag, or the equal of thrust, opposite reaction. To produce thrust, one has to overcome drag, in
accordance with Newtons First Law. The bigger the contrast between drag and thrust, the faster
the plane will accelerate.
Using a derivation of the thrust equation, it is proven that the amount of thrust, as it
pertains to an airplane, produced depends on the mass flow and the exit velocity of the gas. Thus,
high thrust, which is most desirable, is generated either by accelerating a larger amount of gas as
it pertains to a small amount or a smaller amount of gas as it pertains to a larger amount. As
stated before, the larger the contrast between drag and thrust, the faster the plane will accelerate.
These are basic laws of aerodynamics which is important when constructing any propeller based
design, as well as for plane and jet engineering.

BEGINNERS GUIDE TO PROPULSION

Materials & Methods

To produce propulsion different engines and systems have been invented to allow aircraft
to fly at faster speed or in strange environments. The internal combustion system is a hallmark of
propeller propulsion. The internal combustion engine pulls air from the outside to burn the fuel
in the engine. This releases energy and produces heated gas exhaust fumes, which are used to
turn a piston. This piston rotates a crankshaft and spins the propeller, which causes flight.

Gas Turbine Propulsion

Gas turbine propulsion, also called jet propulsion was a creation out of World War II. A
gas turbine engine works by heating a working fluid, in this case a gas, to a high temperature
creating hot gas exhaust. This exhaust then passes through a nozzle and produces thrust. To
ignite the gas used for thrust oxygen must be constantly introduced into the system. Jet
propulsion uses the outside air in order to cause combustion in the engine.

Ramjet Propulsion
When using a Ramjet Propulsion, thrust is produced by passing the hot exhaust from the
fuel combustion into the nozzle (Hall 1). When the flow accelerates, thrust is created. In order
to maintain this flow, the pressure of the combustion must be higher than the pressure in the
nozzles exit. The external air brought in by the system becomes working fluid. Although most
combustors use a device called a compressor, a ramjet, supposedly being less heavy and less
complicated, does not have a compressor. Ramjets produce thrust while the object or vehicle is
moving. The combustion occurs at a very fast rate in a ramjets combustor.

BEGINNERS GUIDE TO PROPULSION

Rocket Propulsion
Eventually a point was reached where governments wanted much faster engines for
different purposes. Some were noble like for space exploration, whilst others were dastardly and
wanted to strap devastating armaments to scare other countries. Whatever the reason scientist
were happy to comply and invented the rocket engine. The rocket engine was specifically built to
discover the possibilities made available at high-speeds. In a rocket engine there is fuel and a
stored producer of oxygen. This stored container of oxygen allows the combustion engine to
work even when there is no oxygen outside of the air/spacecraft. The exhaust gasses produced
are blown out of the nozzles and push the craft forwards at high speeds. The engines used for
rockets are divided into two main categories, liquid and solid engines. Liquid engines use liquid
oxygen and propellant to power the rocket. Its is a complex and heavy system where the oxygen
and fuel are pumped into the combustion chamber. This allow liquid rocket engines to be turned
on and off. In solid rockets the oxygen and fuel and mixed together in a solid and only activate
when burned. Solid rockets are simpler, lighter, and can be idle longer but can not be stopped
once the reaction is alight.

BEGINNERS GUIDE TO PROPULSION

Analysis
This article is extremely important as the aerodynamics is an important facet of physics.
It easily explains propulsion in a way which would be able to inform anyone from 6th grade to
12th grade. The article explains how thrust can be calculated through mathematics and what is
needed for sufficient lift for an air/spacecraft. The article explains how Newtons Third Law (For
every action taken, an equal and opposite reaction is produced). This is a key component for
aerodynamics at it explains why we need propellant when we want to produce thrust.
Figure 1

Fig.1 A rocket engine on a testing bench

Figure 2

Fig 2 A scientist who is recording data taken from a model craft that would have a ramjet engine;
whilst in a wind tunnel.

BEGINNERS GUIDE TO PROPULSION

Figure 3

Fig. 3 A diagram of the inside view of a gas turbine engine

BEGINNERS GUIDE TO PROPULSION

References
Hall,

N.

(2015).

Rocket

Propulsion.

Retrieved,

from

https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/rocket.html

Hall, N. (2015, May 05). Propeller Propulsion. Retrieved September 22, 2016, from
https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/propeller.html

Hall, N. (2015, May 05). Ramjet Propulsion. Retrieved September 22, 2016, from
https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/ramjet.html

Hall, N. (2015, May 05). Welcome to the Beginner's Guide to Propulsion. Retrieved September
22, 2016, from https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/bgp.html

Hall, N. (2015, May 05). Newton's Third Law of Motion Applied to Areodynamics. Retrieved
September 22, 2016, from https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/newton3.html

Hall, N. (2015, May 05). What is Thrust? Retrieved September 22, 2016, from
https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/thrust1.html

Hall, N. (2015, May 05). Gas Turbine Propulsion. Retrieved September 22, 2016, from
https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/turbine.html

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Hall, N. (Ed.). (2015, May 05). General Thrust Equation. Retrieved September 22, 2016, from
https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/thrsteq.html