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How Jet Engines Work

Answers

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  1. Use the Internet to find the function of the main parts of a jet engine and complete the table of jet engine parts shown below.
    (See http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/turbparts.html ) 

    JET ENGINE PARTS

    IMAGE OF PART

    PART FUNCTION

    Fan

    Picture of engine fan

    Accelerates air into the jet engine.

    Fans are used for efficiency.
     

     

     

     

    By-pass Duct

     

    Picture of bypass duct

     

    Air flows through the inlet through a duct and out the nozzle. The air leaves the engine at a higher velocity than when it entered. The passage through which the air travels is called the by-pass duct.

     

     

     

     

    Compressor

    Picture of compressor

    Consists of multiple rows of blades which turn and make the air denser. 

     

    Combustor

    Picture of combustor

     

     

    The compressed air flows into the combustor where a spray of fuel is added and ignited.

     

     

     

    Turbine

    Picture of turbine


    The fast moving air causes the blades of the turbine to turn, generating energy which is used to power other parts of the engine. 

     

     

    Nozzle

    Picture of nozzle

     

    Air leaves the engine through the nozzle where exhause pressure is matched with atmospheric pressure.

     

     

  2. Name the four main types of gas turbines (http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/trbtyp.html) demonstrated below and give their functions.

    NAME OF ENGINE

    DIAGRAM OF GAS TURBINE

    MAIN APPLICATION OF ENGINE

     

     Turbojet

     

    Schematic of tubojet

    Airliners and military aircraft

     Turbo fan

     

     

    Schematic of turbofan engine

    Most common type used in civil and military aircraft

     

     

    Turbo prop  

     

     

    Schematic of turboprop engine

    Military aircraft

     

     

     

     

     Turbo shaft

    Schematic of turboshaft engine

     

    Helicopters, power and pumping stations, hovercraft, and ships

     

    Diagrams used in this table have the following Copyright (C) 1995, 1996, 1997 Allison Engine Company. All rights reserved

  3. The reaction produced by a jet engine is based on Newton's Third law of motion.

     

     

  4. Explain Newton's law of motion referred to in Question 3.

     For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

     

     

  5. Give two examples of applications of Newton's law of motion other than jet engines.

 

 Answers will vary. Examples: a bouncing ball or one marble striking another marble.

 


Related Pages:
Standards
Activity
Worksheet

Propulsion Activity Index
Propulsion Index

 

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Editor: Tom Benson
NASA Official: Tom Benson
Last Updated: Thu, May 13 02:38:24 PM EDT 2021

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