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Rudder

technology Maturity 9-11 Next article →

A rudder is a part used to steer. It works on ships, boats, and even planes.

Olympic stern and rudder
Olympic stern and rudder

A rudder works by changing how fluid moves. Fluid can be water or air. The rudder directs the fluid past the hull. This force makes the craft turn or yaw. Yaw is a side-to-side motion.

Aileron yaw
Aileron yaw

Long ago, people used steering oars. These were large oars on the side of a boat.

Rudder of a Roman Boat (RG Museum Koeln, Germany)
Rudder of a Roman Boat (RG Museum Koeln, Germany)

In ancient Egypt, boats used many oars to steer. In Rome, oars were often on the side. These were called quarter-rudders.

In the 1st century AD, China made a new kind of rudder. This rudder was at the back of the ship.

Pottery boat from Eastern Han Dynasty showing rudder
Pottery boat from Eastern Han Dynasty showing rudder

It was attached to the stern, which is the back of a boat. This design helped ships travel on the big ocean. Some Chinese rudders had holes in them. These are called fenestrated rudders. They helped with control.

Today, we use many ways to move a rudder. Large ships use cables or hydraulics. Hydraulics are systems that use liquid to move parts. Pilots in planes use pedals to steer.

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🖼️ Images & Media (11)
File:Brosen propelersterntychy.jpg
Brosen propelersterntychy.jpg
File:Olympic stern and rudder.jpg
Olympic stern and rudder.jpg
File:Maler der Grabkammer des Menna 013.jpg
Maler der Grabkammer des Menna 013.jpg
File:Rudder of a Roman Boat (RG Museum Koeln, Germany).JPG
Rudder of a Roman Boat (RG Museum Koeln,...
File:Eastern Han pottery boat.JPG
Eastern Han pottery boat.JPG
File:Guo Zhongshu-Traveling on the River in Snow.jpg
Guo Zhongshu-Traveling on the River in Snow.jpg
File:Pottery boat from Eastern Han Dynasty showing rudder.jpg
Pottery boat from Eastern Han Dynasty...
File:Adler von Lübeck. Model ship 05.jpg
Adler von Lübeck. Model ship 05.jpg
File:RudderBereFerrersBenchEnd.jpg
RudderBereFerrersBenchEnd.jpg
File:Aileron yaw.gif
Aileron yaw.gif
File:MM00756-4.jpg
MM00756-4.jpg
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