[westminster]

If I had a small boat and put larger sails would it make it go faster and why?

[NeedKarma]

Here is an interesting site to start you off:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailing

[kp2171]

The answer depends on your audience. What ill post is really a vast oversimplification, since sails really work by creating a low pressure area behind the sail and a high pressure area inside the sail... but little ones may not quite understand that.

Tell them its like the difference between holding your hands up in the wind and holding and umbrella up in the wind. The wind is blowing on both, but when its over a greater area you can feel the wind "pushing" harder. Now its not really completely true, but enough that they might get the general idea. The wind really isn't pushing harder, but you are getting more of the wind "involved". Again, not the answer id give teaching a physics class, but close enough for them to understand without nitpicking. Even better, have them try it in front of a fan on high.

So a bigger sail creates a bigger low pressure area behind the sail and a bigger higher pressure area in the sail area.

If the kids are older you might refer them to the following link, halfway down. Some pics that could be helpful.

http://www.reachtheworld.org/fieldno...pacific7.shtml

Some of the biggest sails are the spinnakers, with a huge surface area out in front of the boat, and they can really make a sailboat move. I've sailed in a regatta with a mainsail (bigger "back" sail), jib (smaller triangular sail in front of the main), and spinnaker (huge sail out in front of all), and that big spinnaker can really make a difference in getting the boat along!