Kites 'R Us: Science ComponentsKites 'R Us: Science ComponentsThis Website is a working collection of items for a Kite Investigation Project: EDUC 521 Sponsored by RETA of New Mexico.
Ben Franklin's Kite: (Excerpt)
Probably the most famous experiment to do with lightning is that of Benjamin Franklin and his famous kite.
What Franklin was investigating was whether or not lightning was an electric phenomenon. This seems fairly obvious to most of us today, but we must remember that in Franklin's day the largest sparks they could make were under an inch long! Since lightning is several miles long it is not so obvious that they can be the same.
Beaufort Wind Strength Scale: (Excerpt)
The Beaufort wind scale is a system used to estimate and report wind speeds when no measuring apparatus is available. Originally invented by Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort (early 19th century) of the British Navy to standardize estimates of wind strength by sea conditions. The scale has been extended to gauge wind speed using observations of the wind's effects on trees and other objects. From Robert Biuk-Aghai's website. Also available is the scale as percieved by an upper-body strength challenged female married Laser sailor.