De Laval Nozzle
Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30
CORE DEFINITION
A pipe structure that narrows in the middle and expands at both ends. The airflow accelerates to sonic speed in the converging section (the throat), and then continues to accelerate to supersonic speed in the diverging section. Counterintuitively, at supersonic speeds, widening the pipe actually accelerates the flow.
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
A counterintuitive strategy after breaking through a bottleneck. In the early stages of growth (subsonic), focus (narrowing the pipe) is needed to accelerate; but once a critical point (sonic speed/bottleneck) is broken through, to continue accelerating, one must instead open up and expand (widen). Managing supersonic conditions with subsonic methods will cause a shock wave (choke).
Anchor fast decisions
The De Laval nozzle is a geometry that first converges and then diverges, allowing subsonic flow to reach sonic speed at the throat and continue accelerating to supersonic speed in the diverging section. It is key to generating thrust in rockets and jet engines.
MINIMUM ACTION
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Source support: Explicit
- zh.wikipedia.orghttps://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%8B%89%E4%BC%90%E5%B0%94%E5%96%B7%E7%AE%A1verified
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