Thrust is a force that propels an object forward or upward by expelling gas or fluid in the opposite direction. It can increase the speed of an object if the net force of thrust is greater than the opposing forces like drag or gravity acting on the object.
Chat with our AI personalities
Friction acts to slow down the motion of an object. It opposes the relative motion between two contacting surfaces, reducing the speed of the object in motion.
A force that is perpendicular to the direction of motion of the object will never speed it up. This is because the force is unable to transfer any of its energy in the direction of motion.
A force can slow down, speed up, or stop the motion of an object. For example, friction can slow down an object, while applied force can speed it up or stop it. The net force acting on the object will determine its resulting motion.
Friction always opposes motion, so it can never speed up an object. Friction slows down or stops an object's motion by acting in the opposite direction. To speed up an object, a force stronger than friction, like a push or a pull, is needed.
When an object is speeding up through the air, the force of thrust is greater than the force of drag, causing the object to accelerate. For the object to continue speeding up, the thrust force must exceed the drag force. At a constant speed, these forces would be balanced.