July 6, 2025

How Do Jet Engines Work? The Science Behind High-Speed Flight

By
Apsara Thisera

Although they look complicated, their basic principles are not too hard to understand. This article describes them in a beginner's terms.

Jet engines are huge machines that enable airplanes to travel around the world at amazing speeds. Although they look complicated, their basic principles are not too hard to understand. This article describes them in a beginner's terms

What Is a Jet Engine?

Jet engines are a reaction engine. They rely on Newton's Third Law: that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Air is blown backward behind the engine and propels the airplane forward 

Most commercial planes in the world use turbofans. They suck in air, compress it, add fuel to the compression, and then combust it.The resulting explosive energy causes a high-speed exhaust to push the plane forward through the air.

Jet engines operate best at high altitudes, where there is less air resistance. This allows aircraft to travel faster and use fuel more efficiently.

The Four Main Stages of Operation

Intake, compression, combustion, and exhaust are the four main processes used by jet engines.

Intake: Air is drawn in by the engine's front.

Compression: To increase the pressure of air, it is compressed tightly.

Combustion: A hot, high-pressure gas is produced when fuel is added and ignited.

Exhaust: As the hot gases exit the back, the engine and the aircraft move forward.

Aircraft are able to sustain high speeds over extended distances thanks to this ongoing process.

Modern Jet Engine Efficiency

Bypass systems make modern jet engines extremely efficient. By allowing some air to bypass the combustion chamber, a turbofan engine can produce more thrust without consuming more fuel.

In addition to being quieter, this improves the engine's fuel efficiency. In order to lower emissions and boost performance, companies such as General Electric and Rolls-Royce are continuously refining their jet engine designs.

Jet engines today are marvels of engineering, combining speed, safety, and sustainability

Conclusion

Jet engines operate on simple physical principles, despite their apparent mystique. Every stage, from intake to exhaust, is essential to enabling flight. We can now fly more quickly, silently, and effectively than ever before because of design improvements.