Why Do Airplanes and Boats Have Red and Green Lights?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do airplanes and boats have red and green lights?

The Big Idea

Planes and boats have a red light on the left side and a green light on the right side! In the dark, the colors tell you which way the vehicle is going. They also have a white light at the back.

Red on Left

Step one: red on the left. A plane or boat has a red light on its left side. Left and red are both shorter words than right and green, which is an easy way to remember.

Green on Right

Step two: green on the right. A plane or boat has a green light on its right side. A white light at the back shows the vehicle's tail.

Read the Colors

Step three: reading the colors. If you see both red and green, the vehicle is coming toward you. If you see only red or only green, it is passing across in front of you.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Red marks the left side. Green marks the right side. White marks the back. The colors you see tell you the way it is heading.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Ships use red and green side lights and white lights too. Pilots and sailors learn these colors early. At night, you can tell a lot from just the lights. Red and green together mean it is facing you.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Draw a boat from above, with a red light on its left side and a green light on its right. Then draw the lights you would see if it were crossing in front of you. Which colors show on each side? Share your drawing with a grown-up.

Outro

Red and green lights show which way planes and boats are heading. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!