IMPROVISED TEACHING

MATERIALS IN SCIENCE &

TECHNOLOGY IV

The Physics of Kite Flying

(Aerodynamic Lift)

Prepared by :
Judy Ann B. Igros
Manaoag, National High School

The Kite

Physics is the study of matter and energy, and how they

relate to one another. Physics can also be described as the
science dealing with physical quantities. In this regard, physics is
widely considered to be the most fundamental (and important) of
all the natural sciences. After all, physics pertains to the
quantification of almost all matter that exists in this world. It is
any aspect of nature that can be expressed, measured or
calculated in specific terms. An appreciation of the world we live
in and all its elements that can be observed by the five physical
senses could be considered as physics in its most general sense.
In this case, the physics of how a kite gains lift is very similar
to how an airplane gains lift. The wings generate lift force by the
action of the moving air over the wing surface. A kite works in the
same way. The wind blows in the direction of the kite and
somewhat underneath it. This creates lift.

BILL OF MATERIALS
Scissors at
P10.00----------------------------------------------------------------------P 10.00
Ruler at
P10.00------------------------------------------------------------------------10.00
3 garbage bags at
P5.00-------------------------------------------------------------

15.00

Pencil at
P5.00------------------------------------------------------------------------5.00
Tape at
P5.00-------------------------------------------------------------------------5.00

2 wooden dowels at
P7.00----------------------------------------------------------

14.00

TOTAL---------------------------------------------------------------------------------P 59.00

A. STEP BY STEP HOW TO CONSTRUCT THE KITE

Step 1: Materials needed.
First of all gather the materials. You will need: scissors, a ruler,
three
garbage bags, a pencil, tape and two wooden dowels.
(The dowel for the spine should be 10 millimeters thick and 95
centimeters long, the dowel for the spar should be 6 millimeters
thick and 90 cm long). You should also have a roll of string.
Step 2: Dimension of the kite sail.

Using the garbage bags, make a 1x1 meter plastic sheet. If the
garbage bags are too small, then cut them open and tape a few
together using strong tape.
Draw on the lines that represent the spar and spine as shown in
the picture according to the dimensions. If you don't want to draw
then tape on some string and use them as guide lines.
(Remember to take off after cutting)
Step 3: Preparing to cut the sail.
Once youve drawn on the two lines that represent the spar and
spine. Join the ends of the lines to form a diamond shape. Again if
you don't want to draw, just tape on some string and use that as
guide lines. (Remember to take them off once finished cutting)
*Tip- Try to be accurate as you when you cut and place of the
dowels, if youre not it might affect the stability of your kite.
Step 4: Attach the spar and spine to the sail.
Tie or glue the two dowels together but make sure they match
the dimensions and then place it on the sail of the kite. Place it on
the kite and attach them to the sail at the ends, where its marked
in the picture. Do this at each corner.
Step 5: Attach the bridle.
Cut a piece of your flying string. Tie one end to the point where
the spine and the spar meet and then tie the other end 15
centimeters from the joint on on to the spine. The string use
should give you about a 6 cm of slack. You can also tie two strings
from the each end of the spar and to the bridle in the middle. This
creates extra stability. Next tie your flying line on to the bridle
around the middle. Now your string is ready.
Step 6: Make the tail
The final thing is attaching the tail. It should be around six times
the length of your kite. Take a garbage bag and cut into strips. (No

need to be accurate). Then take the strips and make a ring with
them, then loop them through each other.
Step 7: Final touches to the tail
You might want to tape the two sides of the loop together to keep
it steady and create more air resistance. Finally tie your tail to the
kite by putting it under the spine and then tying it to the spine.
Step 8: In the end...
Your kite should look something like the one shown here and so
now youre done and can go fly your kite!

B. WHEN TO USE THE KITE AND HOW IT WORKS

Kite flying is a fun activity which people of all ages can enjoy. All
you have to do is go somewhere windy and you can literally go fly
a kite.

As shown, a string is attached to the kite in different locations so

that the kite doesn't flop around in the wind. For further stability
(as well as aesthetic value) a tail is often added to the back of the
kite. If the wind were to blow the tail from the side, the kite would
rotate until the tail (and kite) lined up with the wind. This allows
the kite to remain straight and point in the direction of the wind.
The photo below shows the tails of several kites.

As shown in the second figure, a lift force is generated in the

direction perpendicular to the wind, and a drag force is generated
in the direction parallel to the wind. It's the same principal as if
you were to stick your hand out the window of a moving vehicle.
With your hand tilted clockwise the wind force would push your

hand up (due to lift) and back (due to drag). Both lift and drag are
unavoidable consequences of the aerodynamics involved. You
cannot have one without the other.
Since the lift force acting on a kite is usually quite small, they
must be made of very light and rigid material to get airborne and
stay in one piece.
To get a kite airborne it is sometimes necessary to run while
pulling the kite behind you. This creates "apparent wind" which
creates lift and pushes the kite up. Once the kite reaches a high
enough altitude where the wind becomes strong enough, you can
stop running and the kite will remain aloft .