Kite Flying
Kite flying is one of the fun-filled recreational activity and also a popular festival across the world.
Every country gives different names to their kites depending on their perspective and designs of kites, and the reason to fly kites. The English word ‘kite’ is also the name of an elegant bird. Japanese kites are called as ‘tako’ meaning octopus as their kites have long tails. Germans call kites as ‘drachen’ which means dragon. Kites in Mexico are called as ‘papalote’ which is also a word for butterfly.
The sight of colorful kites in different shapes and sizes covering the blue sky looks splendid to look at.
Historic importance
The first kite was flown in China during 200BC according to written records. In 18th and 19th century, kites were much more than a recreational material and a part of scientific research, aerodynamic experiments, aerial photography and military applications.
Notable events
1752 - Ben Franklin flew a kite to prove the electrical nature of lightening.
1827 - George Pocock used kites to pull a horseless carriage at a speed of about 20 miles per hour for a toll free journey.
1847 - Homan Walsh's kite aided in the construction of a suspension bridge across the Niagara River.
1899 - The Wright Brothers used kites to test their theories for the first flying machine (airplane).
1901 - Guglielmo Marconi used a kite to lift an aerial to make his historical radio link between North America and Europe.
1893, 1902 - Kites were used to raise scientific instruments for weather research and military observers.
1906 - Kites carried a camera aloft to take aerial photographs of the damage caused by the San Francisco earthquake.
Driving Forces of kites
A kite floats in the air because of the balance of four forces - lift, weight, thrust, and drag.
Lift is the upward force that pushes a kite into the air. Kites are shaped and angled in such a way the speed of air moving above the kite is greater than the speed of air moving below. This creates a difference in pressure, i.e., the pressure above is less than the pressure below and the kite is pushed (lifted) into the air.
Weight is the opposite force to lift. It is generated by the gravitational attraction of the Earth on the kite.
Thrust is created by the moving air and propels the kite in the forward direction. Thrust can be imagined as a hand pushing the kite from behind.
Drag is the opposite force to thrust. It is caused by the air pressure difference on front and back sides of the kite and moving air friction over the surface of the kite.
Kite flying is one of the fun-filled recreational activity and also a popular festival across the world.
Every country gives different names to their kites depending on their perspective and designs of kites, and the reason to fly kites. The English word ‘kite’ is also the name of an elegant bird. Japanese kites are called as ‘tako’ meaning octopus as their kites have long tails. Germans call kites as ‘drachen’ which means dragon. Kites in Mexico are called as ‘papalote’ which is also a word for butterfly.
The sight of colorful kites in different shapes and sizes covering the blue sky looks splendid to look at.
Historic importance
The first kite was flown in China during 200BC according to written records. In 18th and 19th century, kites were much more than a recreational material and a part of scientific research, aerodynamic experiments, aerial photography and military applications.
Notable events
1752 - Ben Franklin flew a kite to prove the electrical nature of lightening.
1827 - George Pocock used kites to pull a horseless carriage at a speed of about 20 miles per hour for a toll free journey.
1847 - Homan Walsh's kite aided in the construction of a suspension bridge across the Niagara River.
1899 - The Wright Brothers used kites to test their theories for the first flying machine (airplane).
1901 - Guglielmo Marconi used a kite to lift an aerial to make his historical radio link between North America and Europe.
1893, 1902 - Kites were used to raise scientific instruments for weather research and military observers.
1906 - Kites carried a camera aloft to take aerial photographs of the damage caused by the San Francisco earthquake.
Driving Forces of kites
A kite floats in the air because of the balance of four forces - lift, weight, thrust, and drag.
 |
| Driving Forces of Kite |
Weight is the opposite force to lift. It is generated by the gravitational attraction of the Earth on the kite.
Thrust is created by the moving air and propels the kite in the forward direction. Thrust can be imagined as a hand pushing the kite from behind.
Drag is the opposite force to thrust. It is caused by the air pressure difference on front and back sides of the kite and moving air friction over the surface of the kite.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Share your reading experience here