Testing in the "Wright" Weather

Background
When the Wright brothers were ready to test their glider, they needed a good test area. They determined that the criteria for the test area were that the area had to be mostly flat, open country, sandy hills, and free from shrubs. The area also had to have lots of wind! This last requirement led the brothers to write the United States Weather Bureau for bulletins on wind speed at various locations throughout the country. After much research and many informative replies, the Wright brothers chose Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Procedure
In your group, discuss each criterion that the Wright brothers determined and reach a consensus as to why they chose each one.

1. flat, open country
   
   
   
   
2. sandy hills
   
   
   
   
3. free from shrubs
   
   
   
   
4. windy
   
   
   
   

Extension

1. Write or visit your local weather station to gather information on local weather patterns. Explain why it is important to track weather to determine patterns.
2. Write the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Washington, D.C. 20233 and ask for pamphlets on tornadoes and hurricanes. Determine if there is a pattern to these violent storms.
3. The Wright brothers flew kites and gliders to help with their flight experimentation. Use books, encyclopedias, or the Internet to learn how the Weather Bureau uses kites and balloons to study the weather and the atmosphere.
4. Research global weather patterns and discover how these patterns create various climates.
5. Go online and visit NASA's S'COOL web site and learn how your class can help NASA collect data to be used in real NASA research. http://asd-www.larc.nasa.gov/SCOOL/