How Does a Plane Know How Fast the Air Is Flowing Past It?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. How does a plane know how fast the air is flowing past it?

The Big Idea

How does a plane know how fast air is flowing past it? It uses a thin tube sticking out the front. It is called a pitot tube!

A Thin Tube

Step one: a thin tube. A thin tube called a pitot tube sticks out of the plane's nose or wing. Air rams into the open end, and sensors measure the pressure.

Speed From Pressure

Step two: speed from pressure. Faster air makes more pressure, which turns into an airspeed reading. Pilots care about speed through the air, not just speed over the ground.

A Little Heater

Step three: a little heater. The tube has a small heater inside to stop ice from blocking it. That keeps the reading working.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! The tube points forward. Air rams into it. A sensor reads the pressure. A heater stops ice.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Pitot tubes are named for Henri Pitot, a French scientist who invented the idea in the seventeen hundreds. A small heater stops ice from blocking it. Pressure gives the airspeed reading. Pilots care about speed through the air.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Hold a flat piece of cardboard in front of a fan on low. Then try it on high, with a grown-up. Feel how the push of moving air grows with speed. Keep your fingers away from the blades. Write down what you notice, and share it with a grown-up.

Outro

A pitot tube catches air in its open end, and the pressure tells the plane how fast the air is flowing past it. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!