Tõukejõud

Tõukejõud, in English thrust, is a fundamental concept in physics describing the force that propels an object forward. It is generated by expelling mass in the opposite direction, creating a reaction force according to Newton's third law of motion. This principle is most famously applied in jet engines and rocket propulsion. In a jet engine, air is drawn in, compressed, mixed with fuel, and ignited. The resulting hot gases are expelled at high velocity from the rear of the engine, generating thrust. Similarly, rockets expel hot gas and propellant at high speeds, allowing them to overcome gravity and atmospheric resistance to travel into space.

The magnitude of thrust depends on the mass of the expelled material and the velocity at which it is expelled. A greater mass or a higher exit velocity will result in greater thrust. This is why rockets, which expel a large amount of mass at extremely high velocities, can achieve immense thrust to launch heavy payloads. Tõukejõud is also relevant in other contexts, such as the propulsion of boats by propellers or the force generated by flapping wings in birds and insects. Understanding tõukejõud is crucial for designing and operating any vehicle or system that relies on propulsion.