What happens if you throw sand into a jet engine?

Derek Muller (Veritasium) dives into how jet engines work, from airflow and combustion to the massive turbine blades that keep everything spinning. After touring a Rolls-Royce precision-casting facility, he breaks down why turbine blades are made from single-crystal nickel superalloys—so they can withstand insane temperatures without melting.

Then comes the fun experiment: what happens when you throw sand into a running jet engine? Spoiler—it’s not pretty. The abrasive particles can erode blades, damage the compressor stages, and turn a high-performance engine into a grinding mess.

Watch on YouTube