David Mogensen, age 9, of Sioux City, Iowa, for his question:
WHO INVENTED THE KITE?
Building and flying kites is something every boy and girl should experience. There's something magical about sending your lightly framed sail into the sky, and then keeping it under control with a long string while it dips and soars on brisk springtime breezes.
If you've never tried kite flying, do it soon.
The toy kite received its name from a bird with the same name. The animal kite is a great soaring bird and can be found in the warm parts of the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia.
The toy kite was invented,as far as historians can tell back in prehistoric times.It has Eastern origins and was most likely used to ward off evil spirits in China, Japan, Korea, Malaya and on some of the Pacific islands.
In the Far East today, kite flying remains an active sport for both the young and the old. Many places have certain days set aside for kite flying, and whole villages turn out for what is almost a ceremony. Almost everybody gets into the act.
Kites have been used during warfare. In the past they have been used to carry signal devices and aerial cameras. Man carrying kites were even used in the Russo Japanese War. In recent years they have been of value as antiaircraft targets, being towed and controlled in flight maneuvers from the deck of a ship while the gun crews practiced on them.
In meteorology, Ben Franklin's kite and string drew electricity from the clouds, as every schoolchild knows. This remarkable experiment was part of Franklin's study of the weather. In later years, the kite became an instrument carrier for the meteorologist.
From early studies of flight, kites have been used to observe air conditions, helping to develop the glider which in turn made airplane flying possible.
There are hundreds of different kite designs available on a commercial basis these days. You can buy them in the form of fish, hexagonal shapes and even boxes. On a homemade basis with lots of imagination, the sky is literally the limit as far as kite building and flying goes.
When you set out to fly your kite, remember there are certain rules you should follow. First of all, pick a location that is rather clear not too many houses and trees to give you problems. And keep away from power lines, since they can spell real trouble for kites. With a little bit of breeze, you're set for lots of fun.