Why Do Tall Towers Have Blinking Red Lights?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do tall towers have blinking red lights?

The Big Idea

Tall towers blink red at night so airplane pilots can see them from far away! Red is easy to see against the dark sky, and it stands out from stars. And flashing grabs attention.

Tall Things

Step one: tall things. Towers, tall buildings, and wind turbines rise high into the sky. Airplanes fly low enough to come near them when they take off and land.

Red Flashes

Step two: red flashes. Red is easy to see against the sky, and flashing grabs attention. Pilots can spot the lights from far away, even when it is too dark to see the tower itself.

Fly Safely

Step three: flying safely. Pilots then know where tall things are. They can fly safely above or around them, and stay a safe distance away.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! A tower rises high. A red light shines on top. The light blinks on and off. And a pilot sees it from afar.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Taller towers often have lights at several heights. Wind turbines in a group often blink at exactly the same time. Some towers also use bright white flashes in the daytime. Lights help in fog and rain, too, since a bright flash cuts through the haze.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! With a grown-up, find a tower, a tall building, or a wind turbine with a red blinking light at dusk. Use a clock to time how long between flashes. Is the timing always the same? Stay on the sidewalk and away from roads.

Outro

Blinking red lights help pilots see tall towers from far away. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!