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Sail, keel, and forward motion
Age 13 · Physics
Wind moving past the curved sail creates a force that points at an angle from the sail. The keel in the water blocks sideways drift, so the boat moves forward along its length.
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Age 13: open this week
Browse Age 13
In the picture
- The curved sail: it turns the moving air.
- The wind arrows: moving air arriving at the sail.
- The long arrow from the sail: the force that points away from the sail’s surface.
- The keel fin: a blade under the hull that enters the water.
- The water arrows along the keel: water pushing back against sideways motion.
Examples
- A shopping cart’s fixed wheels stop it sliding sideways but let it roll forward.
- A paper airplane with a folded fin flies straighter than a flat sheet.
Key takeaways
- Wind on the sail gives a force, and the keel’s water resistance cancels the sideways part.
- Boats use air and water together to turn wind into forward motion.
Quiz: Sail, keel, and forward motion (Age 13)
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What does the keel do to help a sailboat move forward?
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Which way does the force from the sail point?
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What two things combine to turn wind into forward motion?
The answers, each with its explanation, are in the app. This lesson has left the free week, so its quiz is part of the subscription.
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