Kite Science For Kids!

We have been having some seriously windy days here in Colorado! And when the wind starts blowing, I can just see the gleam in my kids’ eyes. All they want to do is get outside and start flying kites!

There is no use in trying to hold back the wind. So, when the wind started blowing recently, during a school day, I decided to go with it and turn it into a learning opportunity!

I just love homeschooling! You really can turn just about any activity into a learning opportunity if you think about it for a moment. And kite flying is no exception!

In this article, you will learn the following about kites and how to turn flying kites into a homeschool project:

When Was The First Kite Invented…And By Whom?
Are Kites Only Used For Fun?
What Are The Parts Of A Kite?
How Do They Fly?
Why Do Kites Flop?
What Are The Most Popular Types Of Kites?
How Do You Make Your Own?

When Was The First Kite Invented…And By Whom?

There is much discrepancy about who invented the first kite, as well as where or when. One theory is that a Chinese farmer tied his hat to his head with a piece of string to keep it from blowing away. The wind blew the hat off of the farmer’s head, sending it trailing behind him, as he held onto the string.

Although this story is amusing and the Chinese have been traditionally credited for inventing the kite, historians have found evidence that kites may have been independently invented in Malaysia, Indonesia, Hawaii, Polynesia and New Zealand at about the same time they were first seen in China.

What’s more interesting is that historians now believe that the kite may have originated in Indonesia. A cave painting of a kite was found on Muna Island, southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia that dated from 9,500 – 9,000 B.C.!

The cave painting portrays a type of kite called kaghati, which are still used by modern Muna people today. This kite is made from kolope (forest tuber) leaf for the kite sail, bamboo skin as the frame, and twisted forest pineapple fiber as rope.

Are Kites Only Used For Fun?

Today, millions of people of all ages enjoy flying a kite for fun. However, kites aren’t just for fun. They have historically been used in many practical ways, as well!

One of the ways it has been used is for military purposes. For example, kites have been used for signaling, delivery of ammunition, for observation (both by lifting an observer above the field of battle and by using kite aerial photography), and communication for military operations.

Kites have also been used for scientific purposes. In 1752, Benjamin Franklin most notably shared his famous kite experiment that proved lightning was caused by electricity. Kites were also instrumental to the Wright brothers and others in the development of the first flying airplane in the late 1800s.

But that’s not all! Kites have even been used in meteorology, aeronautics, wireless communications and even photography. Who knew that kites had so many practical uses?

What Are The Parts Of A Kite?

A kite consists of 7 parts: the kite sail, cross spar, spine, tail, bridle, kite line and kite spool.

Historically

Kites have been made from many materials. It is thought that kites were first developed from cloth banners resembling modern flags that were attached to cords or flexible wooden rods. When paper was invented, sometime around 100 A.D., people even began making kites from paper.

Early European kites, dating back to 1430 A.D., were made of cloth, parchment, and a few diagonal sticks. Sometimes the kites even had a silk tail sewn to it.

Modern Day

Today, commercial kite sails are generally made using ripstop nylon, or a strong, light plastic. Homemade kites, on the other hand, are still often made paper or cloth and can also be made using Tyvek or Mylar.

Wood can be used for the spine and cross spar. Good choices of wood that are both strong and light are maple and birch woods or wooden dowel rods. Fiber glass and carbon spars have also been used.

A bridle that is at least twice the length of the kite is advised, otherwise the kite will not fly well. There are several different kinds of bridling:

One (single) point
Two (dual) point
Three point
Multi (quad) point

The larger the kite, the more bridling points are needed in order to stabilize the kite during strong winds. Otherwise, kite spines and cross spars are at risk of breaking.

Kite lines attached to the kite are often times made of twisted or braided nylon or cotton. It is important to have a thick, strong kite line for greater wind resistance. An average children’s kite will fly up to 490 feet (150 meters) high, whereas the average adult kite can fly up to 500 feet (152 meters) high! So, be sure you have enough kite line!

Kite tails may or may not be necessary. They are definitely needed when strong winds are present or when a flat kite is being flown, to add drag to the kite. They should be light and can be made of many different materials.

How Do They Fly?

Kites are similar to airplanes, in that they are heavier than air, yet somehow they fly. But how?

It’s all about lift, drag, and gravity!

As wind moves across the sail of the kite, pressure is created. As air pushes up on the kite, creating this pressure, lift results. It’s as if a hand were pushing the kite up into the air. Once the wind falls, or the “hand” is taken away, the kite falls.

But that’s not all! Wind passing over the kite also creates pressure. It acts like a vacuum pulling the kite up into the sky.

The kite is also affected by gravity, which pulls the kite downward to the ground, and drag, or the wind resistance created on the kite’s sail and tail. The kite must have enough lift to overcome both the forces of gravity and drag.

The thrust, or power, of the wind is also important. In fact, some kites fly better in light winds, whereas others fly better in medium to strong winds.

Lift, gravity, drag and wind thrusts meet at the center of pressure of the kite, or the tow point. This is where your kite’s bridle should be to ensure a kite flies well.

Why Do Kites Flop?

When the kite is in equilibrium, it will fly smoothly and properly balanced in the sky. But this is not always the case. Stability must be maintained along the pitch (lateral plane), roll (longitude plane) and yaw (vertical plane) of the kite. This is affected by where the tow point of the bridle is and even the tail design.

The pitch of the kite is its lateral axis plane, or the imaginary line that rotates around the spine of the kite. If the bridle or spine is weak, wind may cause the kite to flap in the wind. A stronger bridle or spine will restore balance to the kite.

The roll of the kite is its longitudinal axis plane, or the imaginary line that rotates around the cross spar of the kite. When a kite “rolls,” wind lifts one side of the kite higher than the other. To correct this issue, make the kite bow more, adjust the tow point forwards, or add more tail to the kite for more drag.

The yaw of the kite is its vertical axis plane, or the imaginary line that rotates around the kite sail. The kite may start sliding or rotating if the tow point is too far forward. To correct this issue, adjust the tow point backwards or add more tail to the kite for more drag.

What Are The Most Popular Types Of Kites?

Did you know that there are over 150 different types of kites? It’s true! Although you may not have seen them all. The most popular ones you may have seen are these:

1. Delta Kite

Did you know that the delta kite was named after the fourth letter in the Greek alphabet? It was named so, because its triangular shape resembles the Greek letter. The kite was invented in the mid-1940s by a Texas architect named Wilbur “Bill” Green.

The delta kite is considered to be a good beginner kite, since it can flex and adjust to changes in the wind and has an easy, stable flight. Although these kites come in a wide range of sizes, the small and regular sized kites are best for beginners. Tails can be added to the center of the kite, the wing tips, or both.

These kites can be flown in an array of wind speeds. However, most delta kits do best in light to medium winds (approximately 6 – 15 mph). In fact, most delta kits should NOT be flown in breezy weather, unless they were specifically made for stronger breezes.

2. Diamond Kite

Diamond kites may be the most recognized type of kite in North America. After all, Benjamin Franklin famously performed his experiments using diamond kites in the mid-1700s. Their popularity is probably due to their reliable flying capabilities.

Often called the “2-stick kite,” the diamond kite is a good beginner kite and is also very easy to make at home. Although these kites come in a wide range of sizes, they are generally less than 3 feet tall and can be flat or bowed. Bowed diamond kites are stable enough to fly without a tail. However, all flat diamond kites need a tail to add drag in the wind.

Like delta kites, diamond kites can be flown in an array of wind speeds. However, most diamond kits do best in light to medium winds (approximately 6 – 15 mph) and should NOT be flown in stronger breezes.

3. Figure Kite

Figure kites come in many shapes and sizes. They can be bat, bee, bird, butterfly, dragon, dragonfly, fish, octopus, and even snake shaped.

Some of these kites can be quite large, ranging from 20 feet to over 100 feet in length! The kites can also be made with an array of materials. Traditional kites were made using paper or silk with a bamboo frame, while some modern models use fiberglass and nylon in their construction.

Figure kits do best in light to medium winds (approximately 6 – 15 mph) and should NOT be flown in stronger breezes.

4. Parafoil Kite

Parafoil kites are one of the easiest kites to fly. They resemble parachutes and have no rigid frame or skeleton system. Therefore, they are considered “soft kites” that are simply inflated by the wind. They can be flown with one (single), two (dual) or four (quad) bridle or string lines.

Quad-line parafoil kites are most often used by kitesurfers over water, whereas single-line and dual-line parafoil kites are most commonly seen flown on beaches and at festivals.

Although these kites look simple, they are rather difficult to create at home. Purchased kites, on the other hand, require no assembly.

The kites often come with a tail for stability and are pretty easy to just fly. In addition, parafoil kites fly better when the winds pick up a bit (approximately 8 – 25 mph)!

5. Rokkaku Kite

The rokkaku kite is a six-pointed, hexagonal Japanese kite. This tailless kite is often referred to as “The Rok” in the West.

In Japan and in the United States, these kites are often used in “Rok battles,” a 400 year old kite competition that originated in Japan. In these battles, over a dozen kites may be launched into the sky at once. The object of the battle is to cut your opponent’s kite lines or force them to the ground. The last kite flying wins.

However, these kites aren’t just for battle! They can be flown just for fun, too. These kites can be anywhere from 4 feet to 8 feet in height and often have four bridle, or string lines. They are also versatile, as they can be flown in many different wind conditions.

6. Sled Kite

The sled kite, invented in the 1950s by William Allison, is another great beginner kite. These kites can be soft (having no rigid frame or skeleton system) or sparred (having poles that make a skeleton). They are called sled kites because they resemble a sled.

The sled kite is not only easy to assemble, but can also be made from scratch using paper, fabric or plastic. Tails can be added to these kites to add extra drag.

However, these kites, especially the larger models, do not need tails. A unique feature of the sled kite is that it may have vent holes near the bottom edge of the sail, instead of tails, to add stability to the kite. Either way, the sled kite comes in a variety of sizes and can be flown in various wind speeds (approximately 6 – 20 mph).

How Do You Make Your Own?

Sure, you could buy a kite on Amazon, at Walmart, or even at a fancy kite shop like Pro Kites USA or Into The Wind. But if you want your kids to really understand how kites fly, they can make one at home!

First, they must determine what design they want for their kite, whether it be a delta, diamond, or figure design.

Then, they will need to collect some materials. You can use things you find around the house, or purchase kite building materials, such as these:

Kite sail material (ripstop nylon, Tyvek, Mylar or newspaper)
Spine and cross spar material (wooden dowel rods, fiber glass or carbon spars)
Kite line material (twisted or braided nylon or cotton)
Scissors
Pencil
Masking, packaging or Tyvek tape
Ruler or yardstick
Tail material (yarn and ribbons)
Small handsaw
Spool

Once you have your kite materials, you can get started! Follow these steps to make a kite.

1. Make your kite frame.

Start by cutting your kite spine and cross spar to the correct length. Kids can help measure the proper length with a yard stick and use the handsaw to cut them with adult supervision. It is helpful to also add a notch to each end of the spine and cross spar using the handsaw for later use.

Next, secure the center of the spine and cross spar by wrapping it in string to hold it together. Tape can be used to secure the string together.

Using the kite line string, wrap the string around the kite frame, taking care to get the string to settle in the notches that were made on the ends. Tie the string into a tight knot, to make a taught frame.

2. Add your kite sail.

Then add your kite sail, using whatever material you have chosen. Cut the sail to fit the frame, plus an additional inch all the way around the frame, so that it can be taped over the frame line made out of string. Tape the kite sail on well.

3. Add string.

Don’t forget to add a bridle line! Tie a string to two ends of the spine or cross spar. Remember that a good bridle is two times the size of the kite.

Finally, add the kite line. You can use a spool if you like, or just let the kids run with lots of string available to experiment with!

4. Add a fancy tail.

And let’s not forget a tail! Kids can get creative with this and add plain colored strings or bows in rainbow colors. Let their creative flare shine!

5. Fly that kite!

And then, it’s off to the races. Kids can test out their invention. Does it fly? How high can it go? What wind speed is best for their kite? Is the bridle line in the right place? Does it need more tail?

The next time the winds start blowing, I absolutely hope that you have fun! But while you are at it, why not take the opportunity to learn something new? Learning doesn’t always have to be out of a book. In fact, the best learning is hands on! So, get those kids outside learning! Happy kite flying!

What did you learn that you didn’t already know? Did you learn the names to all of the parts of a kite or how a kite flies? Please share!

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Jillian

Hi, I'm Jillian! Jillian's World is about natural living, having fun with your kids and eating well. It's packed with ways to be healthier in mind, body and spirit. I'm so glad you're here!