How do jet engines produce thrust?

Jet engines produce thrust primarily through the process of burning a combustible fuel-air mixture, which generates high-pressure, high-temperature gases. When the fuel combines with air and ignites in the combustion chamber, it expands rapidly due to the heat generated by the burning fuel. This rapid expansion of gases is then directed out of the engine through a nozzle at high speed. According to Newton’s third law of motion, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction; thus, the expulsion of these gases backward results in a forward thrust that propels the aircraft.

This phenomenon is the fundamental operating principle of jet engines, distinguishing it from other mechanisms of propulsion. For example, while some options might suggest thrust generation through friction or electric motors, these do not accurately reflect how traditional jet propulsion operates. The notion of creating a vacuum to pull air is also inaccurate, as this does not describe the mechanical process of thrust generation in jet engines.