SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/aero-thrust-vectoring

Some fighter jets can swivel their engine nozzles. What is that called?

Thrust vectoring.

Start playing free

  1. Thrust vectoring ✔
  2. Afterburning
  3. Ground effect

Why: A movable nozzle changes the direction of the engine's thrust. This lets the thrust act upward or sideways instead of only straight behind the aircraft.

Huh, didn't know that: Forces like thrust are vectors, which means they have both a size and a direction.

The dad joke
Why did the fighter jet swivel its nozzle? It wanted to turn things around.
Like this card?
Play the game

References

Answer: Thrust vectoring. A movable nozzle changes the direction of the engine's thrust. This lets the thrust act upward or sideways instead of only straight behind the aircraft.

  1. Vectored Thrust, NASA Glenn Beginner's Guide to Aeronautics www1.grc.nasa.gov/beginners-guide-to-aeronautics/vectored-thrust
    The ability to change the angle of the thrust is called thrust vectoring , or vectored thrust .
    Checked 2026-10-10.

Think this answer is wrong? Tap "Challenge this answer" on the card in the game and tell us why.

Test yourself in the game

Flying & DronesWhich force directly opposes thrust?Flying & DronesWhat do fast exhaust gases create as they leave a jet engine?Flying & DronesWhat is rocket thrust?

That's stuff everyone should know.