How is power output related to thrust in jet engines?

The relationship between power output and thrust in jet engines is fundamentally linked through the principles of aircraft propulsion. When a jet engine produces higher power output, it indicates that more energy is being generated by the engine. This increased energy leads to a greater rate of fuel combustion, which in turn generates more exhaust gases.

These exhaust gases are expelled at high speed, creating thrust according to Newton's third law of motion: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Therefore, as the power output increases, more air is accelerated out of the engine, resulting in increased thrust. The efficiency of a jet engine translates power input, derived from fuel combustion, into kinetic energy of the exhaust, which directly contributes to the thrust produced.

This understanding clarifies why greater power output correlates to greater thrust, making option B the correct selection.