Question

On what principle does a jet engine work?

• A. Conservation of linear momentum
• B. Conservation of kinetic energy
• C. Conservation of angular momentum
• D. Conservation of inertia

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

Conservation of linear momentum

A jet engine works on the principle of conservation of linear momentum.

In jet engines, a large volume of gases produced by the combustion of fuel is allowed to escape through a jet in the backward direction. Due to the very high speed or velocity, the backward rushing gases have a large momentum. They impart and equal and opposite momentum to the jet engine due to which the jet engine moves forward with a great speed. Thus, we can say that the jet engines work on the principle of conservation of linear momentum.