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Book 23, Question 15 · Video

What Do the Rudder and Elevator at the Tail Do?

Video · 1:47 · Crafty Clover explains, from A Million Whys Book 23

The tail of a plane is not just for looks. It has two important controls. Each one steers in a different direction! Many small planes have rudder pedals that pilots push with their

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What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. What do the rudder and elevator at the tail do?

The Big Idea

The tail of a plane is not just for looks. It has two important controls. Each one steers in a different direction!

The Rudder

Step one: the rudder. The rudder is a vertical flap that swings the nose left or right. Many small planes have rudder pedals that pilots push with their feet.

The Elevator

Step two: the elevator. The elevator is a horizontal flap that tilts the nose up or down. Together with the ailerons, they let the pilot steer in all directions.

Stays Steady

Step three: stays steady. The tail also keeps the plane steady. It works like the feathers on an arrow.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! The rudder swings the nose sideways. The elevator tilts it up or down. The ailerons roll the plane. The tail keeps it steady.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Many small planes have rudder pedals that pilots push with their feet. The rudder steers left or right. The elevator steers up or down. Tails work like the feathers on an arrow.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Bend the back edge of a paper plane's tail up slightly. Toss it gently. Notice how the nose rises. Now bend it down and try again. Share your results with someone you love.

Outro

A plane's rudder steers left and right, and its elevator steers up and down, while the tail keeps it steady. Science is amazing! Stay curious! Every question is a new adventure, so keep wondering and keep exploring with me! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!

Why I wrote this