Thrust (T) is the force generated by the expulsion of exhaust gases from a rocket engine’s nozzle. It’s the force that propels the rocket forward in the opposite direction to the exhaust gases being expelled backward. Thrust is a critical parameter for rocket performance and is a result of Newton’s third law of motion: “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” When the rocket expels high-velocity gases out of its nozzle, the gas exerts a force backward, and the rocket experiences an equal and opposite force (thrust) pushing it forward.Â
- Thrust for a rocket engine (T) in N
- Mass flow through the engine (ṁ) in kg/s
- Gas velocity at the nozzle exit (ue) in m/s
- Gas pressure at the nozzle exit (pe) in N/m^2
- Surrounding ambient atmospheric pressure (p∞) in N/m^2
- Area of the exit (Ae) in m^2