Kites in Flight
Kites have been around for over 2,000 years. They have been used for celebrations, meteorology, aeronautics, wireless communication, photography, and most commonly as toys. Kites must be lightweight, but strong to survive powerful winds while in flight. They usually have a wood or plastic frame with a paper, plastic, or cloth “skin.” Some kites can even do stunts.
Like airplanes, kites are affected by wind and the four forces of flight: gravity, lift, drag, and thrust. Kites can overcome the force of gravity while in flight. The air pressure increases as the wind hits the front of the kite and travels around its sides. This continues down the kite’s back to create a low-pressure area just above the kite. When this wind hits the front of the kite, it’s deflected downward, and this force in the opposite direction pushes the kite upward. That is why it is very difficult to fly a kite without any wind.
Kites in Flight Resources:
