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What were kites used for in the 19th century?
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Who invented the kite?
Sep 6, 2024 · Kite, oldest known heavier-than-air craft designed to gain lift from the wind while being flown from the end of a flying line, or tether. Over the millennia, kites have been used to ward off evil, deliver messages, represent the gods, raise banners, discover natural phenomena, propel craft, drop.
- Eden Maxwell
Kites are now mostly used for recreation. Lightweight synthetic materials (ripstop nylon, plastic film, carbon fiber tube and rod) are used for kite making. Synthetic rope and cord (nylon, polyethylene, kevlar and dyneema) are used as bridle and kite line.
Kite applications. Different types of flying kites (such as water kites, bi-media kites, fluid kites, gas kites, kytoons, paravanes, soil kites, solid kites, and plasma kites) have niche applications. In nature, some animals, such as spiders, also make use of kiting.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, kites were used as vehicles and tools for scientific research. Men like Benjamin Franklin and Alexander Wilson used their knowledge of kite flying to learn more about the wind and weather.
During the 19 th century, kites were used not only for scientific purposes like studying weather and understanding the atmosphere but for lifting (lifting objects like cameras, thermometers, and people) and traction (using kites to pull things like carriages).
According to legend, the first kite was created by a Chinese farmer who tied a string to his hat to prevent it from blowing away in a strong wind. This simple act gave birth to the concept of kite flying. Another fascinating story involves the Chinese philosopher Mozi, who crafted a wooden bird attached to a string around 450 BC.
Early Chinese kites were used to measure distances, determine wind strength, and communicate. Their contribution to scientific and technological advances is also considerable. For instance, Benjamin Franklin's discovery that lightning is caused by electricity is attributed to a kite-flying experiment he performed in 1752 during a thunderstorm.
