How do kites fly?
For grown-ups: the science
Kites fly because wind pushes on their tilted surface, and the string and tail help keep them steady.
A kite produces lift when airflow over and around its angled surface creates an upward force. String tension sets the kite's angle to the wind, while a tail adds drag and stability, helping prevent spinning and side-to-side wobbling.
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Transcript
Look at a kite dancing high above the park. How can it stay up in the sky?
Wind pushes against the kite's wide, slanted cloth. That push lifts the kite upward.
The string holds the kite at the right angle to the wind. This helps the wind keep lifting it instead of blowing it away.
A tail can help the kite point into the wind. Then it wiggles less and flies more smoothly.
So kites fly when wind pushes on them just right, while the string and tail help them stay steady.