Square rig

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/square-rig

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 rigging configuration?Primary sails set on horizontal yards perpendicular to the keel
2. What is the key spars?Yards, supporting the square or rectangular sails
3. How do square sails catch the wind?The yards can be angled by lifts and braces so the sails point into the wind. The large flat surface of the square sails catches the wind and pushes the ship forward, especially when the wind comes from behind or across the ship.
4. Why were square-rigged ships good for long trips?Because the square rig can have many big sails on several masts, it creates a lot of power and can keep a steady speed over long distances. It worked well on ocean trade routes where the wind blows from the side or from behind.

Square rig: A sail plan featuring large, square sails set on horizontal yards, optimized for downwind sailing.
Yards: Horizontal spars attached to masts, used to spread square sails.
Square-rigger: A ship whose primary means of propulsion relies on square sails.
Yardarms: The outermost ends of the yards, beyond the points where the lifts are attached.