If you need help with any of the sections on this lab report, please refer to the Project Resources

Document.

If you do not have the materials to complete this experiment, please contact your instructor.

Project 2: Parachutes and Force

Lab Report
Name: yousif al obaidi

EXPERIMENTAL QUESTION: What effect does parachute size have on the time it takes for a
parachute to reach the ground? The larger the surface area the more air resistance and the
slower the parachute will drop.

HYPOTHESIS – 10 pts
Think back to your hypothesis from the pre-lab quiz. Restate your hypothesis here and be sure to read
feedback that may have been left from your instructor. Remember to use an “If……, then…….”
statement. Remember: You can get the hypothesis from the “Pre-Lab Quiz”.

The parachute size affects the drag time of the object falling. If the parachute size is larger than a
regular parachute then the decreasing free fall will be longer. Independent variable: size of the
parachute Dependent variable: time it takes for the parachute to drop Constants: the weight of the
washers, the height the parachute drops from, length of yarn connecting to parachute.

MATERIALS – 5 pts
List the materials used in your experiment.

1.1 large plastic bag

2.3 washers (of same weight)
3.cellphone stopwatch
4.7 mm of cotton yarn
5.hole puncher ( to attach strings to parachute)
6.ruler
PROCEDURE – 5 pts
Make a numbered, step by step list of short instructions describing how the experiment was performed.
The procedure should have enough detail so that another person could follow and repeat the experiment.

1. Compile and assemble all of the items needed for the experiment. 2. To make the parachutes, cut
three hexagon shapes of varying sizes out of the big trash bag (measured and recorded canopy sizes in
data table) 3. Before completing the experiment, make sure to test the canopies' functionality by
dropping them from any distance. To do this, use a hole puncher to create holes at the bottom of each
of the three canopies. Then, use tape to attach the weights to the yarn. 4. Locate a secure location to
drop the canopies. I did this by dropping my canopies from a ladder precisely six feet above the
ground. 5. To get more precise findings, drop the smallest canopy three times in total, record your
data, and then repeat the process with the other two canopies.

RESULTS: Data Table - 10 pts

Please record your data in the table provided. You can edit this table, if you need to, but you must include
all of your raw data from the experiment. (Be sure to include units!).
Table 1: Parachute Canopy Size
Small Medium Large

Size of Parachute
16.cm 20.cm 25.cm
Canopy

Table 2: Parachute Drop Time

Time for Parachute to Reach Ground
Trial #
Small Medium Large
1 01.16 01.90 1.031
2 01.11 01.93 01.55
3 0.116 0.43 01.70
4 01.11 1.55 01.38
5 01.43 0.95 01.45
Average 01.11ms 1.55ms 0.45ms
RESULTS: Figure– 10 pts

Free-Body Diagram
Draw three free-body diagrams corresponding to the three-sized parachute canopies.
Create the drawing on your computer, or by hand. You will submit these drawings on a separate
document in addition to your lab handout or upload the image into this lab report (see below).

Your free-body diagrams should include force arrows which...

(1) are labeled according to their type
(2) are pointing in the the right direction of the force and
(3) have a length that is relative to the proportion to their relative strength (longer
arrows are stronger forces).
Also be sure to label the parachute sizes.
View the “Free Body Diagrams” video to learn more about free body diagrams.

Upload your graph along with your lab report or copy and paste it to the space provided below.

ANALYSIS - 20 pts
1) Consider your results from the data table. What pattern emerges? is the trend a positive, negative,
or neutral relationship. Use complete sentences in your explanation. (5 pts)

2) Justify your choice in trend by using data as evidence from your Data Table. Use complete
sentences in your explanation. (15 pts)

1) 1) It was difficult to determine whether there was a positive or negative association

between the times from the dropping times and the pattern from the data table, which
shows a neutral relationship.
2) According to this tendency, the medium-sized parachute dropped faster than the large
and small-sized parachute. The height at which each parachute dropped was a constant
element. Although the average time for the small and medium-sized canopies was roughly
equal, the small canopies declined more quickly. Over time, the acceleration was
increased by the medium and large canopies.
CONCLUSION – 30 pts
In your conclusion include the following:

1. Restate the hypothesis and whether it is supported or not. Use data as evidence. For evidence,
refer to your data table. (Use complete sentences.) (10 pts)

2. Make inferences to explain your results. Reference the Background section of the Project 2:
Parachutes and Force Lab Introduction page. Suggestions: What do you think is causing the results
you are seeing? For example, why do you think the parachute descended the way it did? (5 pts)

3. Review the constants you listed in the pre-lab quiz. List them and describe how they could have
influenced the results of this experiment. (5 pts)

4. Make a suggestion for how you could improve this experiment to provide more evidence. How
could you manipulate the experimental constants, including but not limited to: the materials of the
parachute, the drop height, added weights, method of timing, etc. (5 pts)

5. Summarize the experiment. Suggestion: discuss the real world applications from the findings of this
experiment. (5 pts)

1) 1) Original hypothesis: The drag time of an object falling is influenced by the size of the
parachute. The diminishing free fall will last longer if the parachute is larger than a standard
parachute. Because it took longer for the medium canopy to reach the ground in those days,
the idea needs to be substantiated.

2) 2) According to the data, the canopy with the smallest diameter will descend at the fastest
rate as there won't be any air beneath it to moderate the parachute's downward force.

3) The height from which the canopy fell was one of the constants mentioned. To acquire
reliable data results, this height had to stay fixed. The washers' weights also had to be equal
because a difference in washer size would have caused the heaviest weight to fall more
quickly.
4) Using better material for the canopies than a garbage bag would be one improvement I
would propose making to this experiment, given that it is already set up to provide
dependable data.

5) The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the potential effects of parachute size on
free-fall time. Based on the weights added to the parachute and its altered size, the data
showed us that a parachute's size can change its drop time. This is because air would get
under the canopy and take control of the downward force.
Review your document for spelling, capitalization, grammar, and other writing conventions. Writing
conventions account for 10 points on this project.

Submit this project in Lesson 10: Connections and Review