Veritasium: What happens if you throw sand into a jet engine?

What’s going on inside a jet engine?

Derek Muller walks us through the anatomy of a jet engine—big compressors, burners, turbines—and explains why those shiny turbine blades don’t turn into molten goo at 1,500°C. It all comes down to advanced nickel‐based superalloys, single‐crystal casting, gamma-prime strengthening, internal cooling channels and protective ceramic coatings.

So, sand in the works?

Throwing sand into a running engine may sound dramatic, but while tiny particles can erode blade edges, foul cooling passages and reduce performance, the combination of super‐hard materials, clever cooling designs and regular maintenance keeps most engines flying safely through dusty skies. In short: it’s bad news for efficiency and blade lifespan, but far from an immediate meltdown.

Watch on YouTube