Wingspan

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

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/wingspan

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 scientific name (wandering albatross)?Diomedea exulans
2. What is the record bird wingspan measurement?3.63 meters (11 feet 11 inches) for a wandering albatross
3. Why do albatrosses have such a big wingspan?Albatrosses have a wingspan of 3.63 meters, which lets them glide over the ocean using wind layers. This long wing shape uses very little flapping, so they can travel thousands of kilometers without tiring.
4. How does wingspan affect airplane design?In airplanes, a larger wingspan gives more lift and can make the plane use less fuel on long trips. Engineers choose the right span to balance lift, speed, and how the plane lands.

Dynamic Soaring: A technique used by large seabirds to gain energy from wind gradients over the ocean.
Aspect Ratio: The ratio of a wing's span to its chord (width), indicating how long and narrow a wing is.
Wing Loading: The ratio of an aircraft's weight to its wing area, affecting stall speed and maneuverability.
Anthropometric: Relating to the measurement of the human body.