Biplane

High school (ages 12+)
Transportation

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/biplane

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is a biplane?A biplane is an airplane that has two sets of wings stacked one above the other. It was one of the first types of planes that people built to fly.
2. Why did early airplanes use biplanes instead of single wings?Biplanes were lighter and stronger because the two wings and the wires between them made a sturdy frame. This was important when planes were made of wood and fabric and had to be very light.

Parasitic Drag: Air resistance caused by the shape and surface of an aircraft, distinct from lift-induced drag.
Stressed-Skin Construction: An aircraft construction method where the outer skin carries most of the aerodynamic and structural loads.
Tandem Wing: An aircraft wing configuration where wings are placed one behind the other, rather than one above the other.