Sailing

High school (ages 12+)
Sports & Games

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/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 historical significance?Catalyst for exploration, trade, and cultural exchange throughout history
2. What is the primary aerodynamic principle?Bernoulli's principle, generating lift through differential air pressure on sails
3. How does a sailboat move forward when the wind is blowing?When wind flows over the curved sail, it creates a lower pressure on one side and a higher pressure on the other. This pressure difference pulls the sail and the boat forward, like a wing on a plane.
4. Why do sailors use a keel or centerboard?The keel or centerboard is a fin that sticks into the water. It stops the boat from sliding sideways and helps it move straight forward.

Airfoil: A shape, like a sail or wing, designed to generate lift when fluid flows over it.
Leeway: The sideways drift of a boat caused by wind acting on the sails.
Close-hauled: Sailing as close to the wind's direction as possible, typically at a 45-degree angle.