We are all connected through the need and use of STEM in our daily lives. All across the world, people do the same STEM professional jobs that allow us to live comfortably, like clean water and air conditioning. STEM allows us to make great discoveries that improve our lives and the lives of others, like assistive devices for those with physical challenges or the ability to grow more healthy produce to feed even more people. STEM is the makeup of our world and throughout this camp, we’ll show you how Oklahoma is connected to those all across the globe.

Materials Needed:

• World Map

• Dry erase markers

• Post it flags

Bernoulli's Principle

Daniel Bernoulli was a scientist in the 1700s, and he studied how fluid moves. Air is technically a fluid because it can conform to different shapes and it flows, so Bernoulli's principle also applies to the way air moves. Bernoulli's principle states that when a flow of fluid moves horizontally, the points with higher fluid speed have less pressure than the points with slower fluid speed. Airplane wings are shaped to cause air to pass over and under them at different speeds. Air moving over the tops of airplane wings is faster, which decreases the air pressure. Air beneath the wings moves straight, so the speed and pressure stays relatively constant. High pressure continuously moves toward low pressure, so air beneath the wings pushes upward to create lift.

A kite is traditionally a tethered heavier-than-air craft with wing surfaces that react against the air to create lift and drag. A kite consists of wings, tethers, pulleys, and anchors. Kites often have a bridle to guide the face of the kite at the correct angle so the wind can lift it. Kites have been around for thousands of years and they are a part of many different cultures around the world.

Kites have a long and varied history and many different types are flown individually and at festivals worldwide. Kites may be flown for recreation, art or other practical uses. Sport kites can be flown in aerial ballet, sometimes as part of a competition.

The German company SkySails has developed ship-pulling kites as a supplemental power source for cargo ships, first tested in January 2008 on the ship MS Beluga Skysails. Trials on this 55 meter ship have shown that, in favorable winds, the kite increases fuel-efficiency by up to 30%. This system is planned to be in full commercial production late 2008. Kites are also available as an auxiliary sail or emergency spinnaker for sailing boats. Self-launching Parafoil kites are attached to the mast.

While the forces on all kites are the same, each kite flies a little differently. Some kites are highly maneuverable and some kites are very stable. There are kites with multiple control lines that can perform stunts, while other kites can be flown to high altitudes.

Our second aerospace challenge is building and flying a kite. Use the instructions included below to build your kite. Take it outside and practice flying it!