Getting the kite off the ground and into the air is an illustration of one characteristic that is called aerodynamics. This is the study of how forces create motion to send kites through the air. According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the scientific forces used in getting a kite to fly are buoyancy, weight and wind velocity. The kites fly because they are heavier than the wind pushing against it. The kite's design takes advantage of this, using the wind and buoyancy to fly through the air.
Students can study different types of kites to understand how changes in shape and size affect the aerodynamics of a kite. The types of kites are winged box, delta, sled, box and the traditional diamond kite. The variations in type are excellent sources for science lessons.
In the various sizes and shapes that kites come in, you can also gather a lesson in geometric figures. The box kite is an example of a rectangular prism shape, while the winged box is an example of a hexagon over a rectangular prism. The diamond contains triangular forms, while the sled is a combination of the square, triangle and hexagon. Kites are a tool for introducing younger children to the concept of geometric figures.
Geometry relies heavily on angles, as does the design of the kite. Students can use the angular characteristics of the kite to study the importance of angles in a real-world device. Measuring the angles, creating simple kites with angular variations and test flying those kites are ways that geometry lesson can become fun using a characteristic of a kite. Students will soon learn that the angular design of the kite is necessary for aerodynamics.