Table of Contents
What forces affect a parachute drop?
How large a parachute is (in other words, the parachute’s surface area) affects its air resistance, or drag force. The larger the parachute, the greater the drag force. In the case of these parachutes, the drag force is opposite to the force of gravity, so the drag force slows the parachutes down as they fall.
How does material affect parachute?
The parachute with the heavier weight did fall faster than the parachute with the lighter weight. Therefore the speed of the parachute was effected by the parachute material.
How does wind affect parachutes?
Wind certainly affects the flight pattern. The wind pushes on the parachute, causing it to be moved in the direction of the wind with whatever speed it is pushing. The size of the parachute affects the speed of falling because a larger parachute allows it to displace more air, causing it to fall more slowly.
What factors affect the movement of objects?
Objects change their motion because unbalanced forces act on them. There are four main factors that affect the motion of objects. These factors are force, friction, inertia, and momentum.
What are the factors that affect a parachute?
The large surface area of the parachute material provides air resistance to slow the parachute down. The larger the surface area the more air resistance and the slower the parachute will drop. Also, what forces affect a parachute?
Why does a parachute slow a skydiver down?
The parachute slows the skydiver down because it causes air resistance, or drag force. The air pushes the parachute back up, and creates a force opposite to the force of gravity, slowing the skydiver down.
What happens if you fall from a plane without a parachute?
With parachutes, it’s the slowing-down effect that we want. If you fall from a plane without a parachute, your relatively compact body zooms through the air like a stone; open your parachute and you create more air resistance, drifting to the ground more slowly and safely—much more like a feather.
How are parachutes used in the real world?
Parachutes are used to deploy troops and support into war zones, deliver supplies and cargo, save lives, decelerate aircraft, and more recently, for the sport of skydiving. The simple concept has evolved into a masterful invention that can be steered and manipulated almost like an airplane, just by using lift, drag, and gravity.