Mast (sailing)

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/mast-sailing

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 the category?Sailing Technology and Maritime Engineering
2. What is the fun fact?The construction of large, multi-section masts required specialized artisans known as mastmakers
3. What is a mast on a sailing boat?A mast is a tall, vertical pole on a boat that holds up the sails so they can catch the wind. It is the main part that lets a sailing ship move.
4. Why do masts need to be strong and sometimes have ropes attached?Masts must be very strong because the wind pushes on the sails and pulls on the mast. Big masts often have ropes or wires called guying to help keep them steady.

Spar: A long, cylindrical pole or beam used to support sails, rigging, or other equipment on a vessel.
Aerodynamics: The study of how air moves around solid objects and the forces it creates.
Hydrodynamics: The study of how water moves around objects and the forces it creates.