How does a propeller generate thrust?

The generation of thrust by a propeller is primarily achieved through the conversion of rotational motion into a pressure differential. When the blades of a propeller spin, they create a difference in air pressure around them. As the blades push air backward, they effectively generate a high-pressure area in front of the blades and a low-pressure area behind them. This difference in pressure results in thrust that propels the aircraft forward.

The design and angle of the propeller blades are also crucial, as they determine how efficiently air is moved backward and how much thrust is produced. The underlying principle is similar to how an airplane wing generates lift, but in the case of a propeller, the motion is indeed focused on thrust rather than lift.

In contrast, jet propulsion involves a different mechanism that uses the expulsion of high-speed exhaust gases but is not applicable to propellers. Similarly, while the rapid spinning of the propeller blades does contribute to thrust, it is the movement of air through pressure differentials that fundamentally produces thrust. Lastly, creating lift is related more to the upward motion of the aircraft rather than forward thrust, which is what propellers are specifically designed to accomplish.