The principle of direct reaction and jet propulsion

In the Second World War, among all the equipment used by the opposing sides, special interest was represented by those combat units whose operation was based on the principle of direct reaction.

This principle was first studied experimentally in ancient times. Apparently, Heron of Alexandria became that first researcher. It is known that a hundred and twenty years before the beginning of our era, he created the first jet turbine. It represented a hollow sphere with lateral hollow "branches" that were bent at an angle of 90 °. Inside the ball was steam. When, through the side tubes ("branches"), the steam came out, the ball began to rotate. However, established by Geron fact of the presence of the driving force of practical application at that time did not find.

The first information about the use of direct reaction for the flight of a rocket dates back to the 10th century. However, evidence of the launch of missiles in China in the 13th century during the invasion of the Mongols is considered more reliable.

The idea of applying direct reaction soon penetrated into Europe. However, there she did not receive any development. To a greater extent, this was due to the fact that in the 14th century a manual firearm (rifle) was created, which proved to be more effective than a Chinese missile.

The rocket affair was interested in Russia. In 1680, the first workshop for the manufacture of rockets was created in Moscow. Peter the Great later actively participated in its activities.

In parallel with the development of rocket science, the jet movement began to be studied. Information about some developments in this area date back to the 17th century. The reactive movement was actively studied by scientists. It is described by the law of conservation of momentum. The jet movement is the movement of the body, caused by the separation of a part from it at some speed. To this day, work has been done in this area of Newton, Huygens, Bernoulli, Zhukovsky and others.

In Russia, by the end of the 19th century, the idea arose for the first time to apply the jet movement in aviation construction. The project of this idea was created by the famous People's Liberation Kibalchich in 1881. Subsequently Tsiolkovsky in his works developed this project, proposing in 1903 to use the jet movement in interplanetary communication. Further development of this scientific sphere was in the works of Goddard, Obert, Lauren. These and other figures studied in their experiments different options for the use of direct reaction, mainly applicable to jet engines.

But it should be noted that the collected theoretical material of the first decade of the 20th century was not enough to apply it in practice during the First World War. At that time, the principle of jet propulsion was used primarily in illuminating and signal rockets.

The period between the First and Second World Wars is distinguished by active and intensive work in the field of development of reactive technology. As a result of this work, new weapons have become ubiquitous during the fighting.

Today, reactive technology is predominantly of military importance and develops in two main directions: as a direct reaction engine in the aviation structure and as a reactive type of weapon in artillery. Along with this, signal and lighting facilities became widely used as a variety of this technique.

There is also a jet movement in nature. So, for example, squid, octopus, jellyfish, cuttlefish tend to move due to an ejected water jet. In the plant world, one can also observe the principle of jet propulsion. So, for example, in the southern states the plant grows "a mad cucumber". From a light touch to a ripe fruit that looks like a cucumber, it bounces off the stem. In this case, a liquid with seeds emerges from the fruit through the formed hole. "Cucumber" flies in the opposite direction. It should be noted that the speed of the emitted liquid reaches ten meters per second, and the fruit can fly off by twelve meters.