Jump to main content
Science Projects

Parachutes: Does Size Matter?

1
2
3
4
5
2,313 reviews
Log In

This feature requires that you be logged in as a Google Classroom teacher and that you have an active class in Google Classroom.

If you are a Google Classroom teacher, please log in now.

For additional information about using Science Buddies with Google Classroom, see our FAQ.

Abstract

How does a parachute work? Do bigger parachutes work better than smaller parachutes? Find out in this science project if the size of the parachute matters.

Summary

Areas of Science
Aerodynamics & Hydrodynamics
Space Exploration
Difficulty
 
Time Required
Very Short (≤ 1 day)
Prerequisites
None
Material Availability
Readily available
Cost
Very Low (under $20)
Safety
No issues
Credits

Sara Agee, Ph.D., Science Buddies

Sources

  • This project was inspired by content from the NASA Explorers School program and Schlumberger's SEED program.

Objective

Test different sized parachutes to see how changes in the size of the parachute affect flight.

Introduction

Photo of a skydiver with arrows for gravity pulling downward and drag pushing upwardImage Credit
Figure 1. As the skydiver falls, the forces of gravity
and drag are nearly in balance (SEED, 2006b).

In the sport of skydiving, a person jumps out of an airplane from a very high altitude, flies through the air, and releases a parachute to help them fall safely to the ground, as shown in Figure 1. The parachute slows down the skydiver's fall so that they can land on the ground at a safe speed. How does the parachute do this?

As the skydiver is falling, the force of gravity is pulling the skydiver and their parachute towards the earth. The force of gravity can make an object fall very fast! 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. As the skydiver falls slowly to the earth, these "push and pull" forces are nearly in balance.

In this aerodynamics science project, you will test whether the size of the parachute is important for slowing down the speed of the fall. You will make a series of parachutes from small to large and test how quickly they fall from the same height. Will the large parachutes fall more slowly than the small parachutes?

Terms and Concepts

Questions

Bibliography

These resources provide additional information about the physics of parachutes:

  • The Physics Classroom. (n.d.) Skydiving. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  • Aerocon. (n.d.) Calculating Drag. Retrieved October 19, 2010.

For help creating graphs, try this website:

  • National Center for Education Statistics, (n.d.). Create a Graph. Retrieved June 25, 2020.

Materials and Equipment

Experimental Procedure

  1. Each parachute will be made out of the garbage bag material, so first cut open the garbage bags to make a flat sheet of plastic.
  2. You will make a series of four parachutes of different sizes, from large to small. Each parachute will be square in shape, so the four sides will each be of the same length. Table 1 below shows the list of parachute sizes you will try.
Parachute Length of Each Side (cm) Surface Area (cm²)
1 20 400
2 30900
3 401600
4 502500
Table 1. In this science project you will try a variety of different sized parachutes. This table shows the different sizes you will try, with the sizes given in centimeters (cm).
  1. Cut out each of the four differently sized parachutes from the garbage bag material.
    1. Tip: One trick is to fold the plastic sheet in half twice so that it is four layers thick. Then cut the two edges (opposite the folded sides) down to half of the length you want your square to be. When you unfold it, you will have your square!
  2. For each parachute, tie a knot in each of its four corners.
    1. The knots will be used to anchor your string.
  3. Cut 16 pieces of string, making each be 40 cm long.
    1. Each parachute will need four pieces of string.
  4. For each parachute, tie one end of each piece of string around one of the four knots, positioning the string right above the knot, as shown in Figure 2 below.
String is tied around a knot made in a plastic bagImage Credit: Teisha Rowland, Science Buddies / Science Buddies
Figure 2. For each parachute, tie a piece of string just above each knot.
  1. For each parachute, hold the center of the plastic sheet in one hand and pull all strings with the other to collect them. Tie the free end of the strings together with an overhand knot, as shown in Figure 3 below.
Drawing of an overhand knot
Figure 3. For each parachute, tie the ends of the strings together using an overhand knot, as shown here.
  1. Attach 1 washer to each bundle of strings with a twist tie. Alternatively, if you are using pennies and tape instead, tape 2 pennies to each bundle of string.
    1. Be sure that each parachute has the same number of washers or pennies attached, or this will alter your results!
    2. Your parachutes should now look like one of the parachutes in Figure 4 below.
Photos of two parachutes made of string and a black plastic bagImage Credit: Teisha Rowland, Science Buddies / Science Buddies
Figure 4. Your completed parachutes should look like one on the left if you used a washer and twist tie or the one on the right if you used pennies and tape.
  1. In your lab notebook, make a data table that looks like Table 2 below.
    1. You will be recording your results in this data table.
  2. Bring a stopwatch, the parachutes, and your lab notebook to a safe, high surface for your tests, about 2 meters from the ground.
    1. A good place for your test might be a secure balcony, deck or playground platform.
  3. Using your stopwatch, time how long it takes in seconds for each parachute to fall to the ground. Be sure to release the parachute from the same height each time. You may want to have a helper help time the parachutes when you release them.
    1. If the parachute does not open during a trial, just do that trial over so that when you are finished you have three trials which all worked.
    2. Test each parachute three times. Each time record your results in the data table in your lab notebook.
    3. Make an average of your data. Calculate the average by adding together your three times, and then dividing your answer by three. Record the averages in your data table.
    4. You can also increase the number of trials above three to get better data and organize your data table accordingly.
    5. Tip: If the parachutes seem to be falling too fast, you could try using a smaller washer of fewer pennies for each parachute. If the bottom of the parachute does not stay at the bottom as it falls, you could try using more washers or pennies for each parachute. Be sure to have the same size and number of washers or number of pennies on each parachute when you test them.
Parachute # Trial 1 (seconds) Trial 2 (seconds) Trial 3 (seconds) Average Time (seconds)
1     
2     
3     
4     
Table 2. In your lab notebook, make a data table like this one to record your results in.
  1. Now make a graph of your data. Make a line graph of time vs. surface area. "Time (in seconds)" should be on the y axis (the vertical axis), and "Surface area (in square cm)" should be on the x-axis (the horizontal axis).
    1. You can make a graph by hand or use a website like Create a Graph to make a graph on the computer and print it.
  2. After you connect the dots on your graph, your line may slope up or down. What does this tell you about the relationship between the surface area of the parachute and how long it takes the parachute to reach the ground? Which parachute was the most effective one? How do you think this is related to air resistance, or drag force?
icon scientific method

Ask an Expert

Do you have specific questions about your science project? Our team of volunteer scientists can help. Our Experts won't do the work for you, but they will make suggestions, offer guidance, and help you troubleshoot.
Post a Question

Global Connections

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) are a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.

This project explores topics key to Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.

Variations

In this experiment you tested one variable, the surface area of the parachute. What other variables could be tested? Try an experiment to test these other variables:

  • Load - change the number of washers to change the weight of the load
  • Height - drop the parachute from different heights
  • String Length - change the length of the supporting strings from short to long
  • String Weight - change the type of string from thin to thick
  • Material - use different material for the parachute (nylon, cotton, tissue paper, etc.)
  • Shape - try making parachutes of different shapes (circle, rectangle, triangle, etc.)

Careers

If you like this project, you might enjoy exploring these related careers:

Aerospace Engineer
Log in to add favorite
Career Profile
Humans have always longed to fly and to make other things fly, both through the air and into outer space—aerospace engineers are the people that make those dreams come true. They design, build, and test vehicles like airplanes, helicopters, balloons, rockets, missiles, satellites, and spacecraft. Read more
Aviation Inspector
Log in to add favorite
Career Profile
Aviation inspectors are critical to ensuring that aircraft are safe to fly. They conduct pre-flight inspections to make sure an aircraft is safe. They also inspect the work of aircraft mechanics, and keep detailed records of work done to maintain or repair an aircraft. As problems are identified, they may make changes to maintenance schedules, and may be called upon to investigate air accidents. Read more
Aerospace Engineering & Operations Technician
Log in to add favorite
Career Profile
Aerospace engineering and operations technicians are essential to the development of new aircraft and space vehicles. They build, test, and maintain parts for air and spacecraft, and assemble, test, and maintain the vehicles as well. They are key members of a flight readiness team, preparing space vehicles for launch in clean rooms, and on the launch pad. They also help troubleshoot launch or flight failures by testing suspect parts. Read more

News Feed on This Topic

 
, ,

Cite This Page

General citation information is provided here. Be sure to check the formatting, including capitalization, for the method you are using and update your citation, as needed.

MLA Style

Science Buddies Staff. "Parachutes: Does Size Matter?" Science Buddies, 9 Aug. 2023, https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/Aero_p017/aerodynamics-hydrodynamics/parachutes-does-size-matter?class=AQXw65dBcVCMXGaLTNaUrQFC56PYajm92f8dPv4EnPk-elH0U3vZ11dK-axgUDfQhgj2ydSOaiEu_sVZkX_rA5_4. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.

APA Style

Science Buddies Staff. (2023, August 9). Parachutes: Does Size Matter? Retrieved from https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/Aero_p017/aerodynamics-hydrodynamics/parachutes-does-size-matter?class=AQXw65dBcVCMXGaLTNaUrQFC56PYajm92f8dPv4EnPk-elH0U3vZ11dK-axgUDfQhgj2ydSOaiEu_sVZkX_rA5_4


Last edit date: 2023-08-09

Explore Our Science Videos

Fun Physics with Your Cell Phone
Video: Winding Coil
Why Do Apples and Bananas Turn Brown? - STEM activity
Quick Links X
Top
We use cookies and those of third party providers to deliver the best possible web experience and to compile statistics.
By continuing and using the site, including the landing page, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
OK, got it
Free science fair projects.