Down with Parachutes

Background Knowledge
Gravity is a pulling force. It pulls objects toward Earth. Air resistance is a pushing force. It is a
source of friction because it opposes motion. When parachutes fall to Earth, air resistance pushes
against them. The fabric of a parachute has a lot of surface on which air can push. The effect of
this force is to slow the parachute down. The larger the parachute, the slower it will fall, because

there is more air resistance.

Science Activity

Examine the drawing of two people jumping with parachutes.

Which person will fall to Earth faster? Explain your answer. The
person on the right
will fall faster because the terminal velocity will be higher because the
air resistance is lower.
Describe all of the forces acting on the parachute. Make sure to state the direction of the force.
The air is pushing up against the parachute. The gravity/weight is also
pulling down parachute.
Science Investigation

Obtain five pieces of paper of the same size. Leave one piece of paper unfolded.
Fold one in half and tape it closed. Repeat this, but fold and tape two pieces of
paper together. Fold one piece of paper in half two times and then tape it closed.
Design and conduct an experiment to see which paper falls first when they are
dropped from the same height.

Procedures:

1. Fold the pieces of paper as explained above.

2. Punch holes in the four corners of each “parachute.”
3. Tie one end of a piece of string through the holes in the “parachute” and the other end to
a pencil of pen.
4. Standing on top of the lab station, drop the “skydiver” and record the time it takes to
reach the floor and record in the data table.
5. Repeat for each parachute.

Data:

Parachute Drop
Parachute Time (sec.)
1 1.6 sec
2 1.31 sec
3 0.86 sec
4 0.66 sec
5 0.56 sec

Analysis:

1. Which “parachute” landed first? Why? The 5th parachute took the shortest
amount of time coming down in 0.56 sec. It has the least resistance
because it has the smallest parachute. The terminal velocity is highest
with the smallest parachute.
2. Which “parachute” landed last? Why? The first parachute landed last because it
has the most resistance with the largest area.
3. Did using two pieces of paper for one parachute affect the outcome? Why or why not? Yes,
it made it land quicker with the added weight of the second paper and
smaller area.
4. What force pulls the “skydiver” to the ground? The skydivers mass that has
gravity applied on it.
5. What force slows the “skydiver’s” decent the ground? The
air force resistance from
the parachute that pushes up on the direction of force.