Kite Maths



Introduction

Explore Geometry With Kites!

Can you make a kite shape from a single A4 size sheet of paper using only three folds? Click Here to find out how.

Will your kite tessellate? Can you put a number of kites together to make a symmetric design? What about 4 lines of symmetry and rotational symmetry of order 8.... is it possible?

Can you write a procedure in Logo to draw a kite .... what designs can you make with your Logo kites?

What is a kite?

Kite

In geometry a kite, sometimes known as a deltoid, is a quadrilateral with two disjoint pairs of congruent adjacent sides. A kite can also be described as a quadrilateral with an axis of symmetry along one of its diagonals.

A kite, as defined above, may be either convex or concave, but the word "kite" is often restricted to the convex variety. A concave kite is sometimes called a "dart" or "arrowhead".

Kite Facts

  1. A kite can be a geometrical shape (a special quadrilateral) and a toy that flies in the wind.
  2. A kite is a quadrilateral with two pairs of adjacent sides that are equal in length.
  3. The diagonals of a kite are perpendicular to each other.
  4. One of the diagonals of a kite bisects the other diagonal.
  5. If a kite has all four sides are of equal length then it is a rhombus.
  6. The angle at which a kite flies relative to the ground is called the "angle of elevation."
  7. The length of the string from the person to the kite can be used, along with the angle of elevation, to calculate the height of the kite using trigonometry.
  8. The tension in the kite string is a result of the balance between the gravitational force pulling the kite downwards and the aerodynamic lift and drag forces.
  9. The kite's tail helps stabilize it by adding drag, preventing excessive spinning or tumbling.
  10. In addition to fact number 1, a kite can also be the common name for a number of birds of prey.
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