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How to Make a Parachute With a Basket Attached to It

A parachute can make a falling object fall much more slowly. When an object falls, it is being pulled down by gravity. A parachute creates air resistance and makes a force opposite to gravity, creating a much slower descent to the ground. You can make your own parachute to slow down small falling objects or hold a basket to put objects in.

Things You'll Need

large plastic bag (strong material is best)
long piece of string
scissors
ruler
tape
protractor
hole puncher
basket

Instructions

- 1
  Cut a circle out of a plastic bag. This will be the parachute. Find a point in the center of the bag and measure several equal points from the center. Cut a circle from each of the points.
- 2
  Divide the circle into six equal parts. Use a protractor to measure each part with an angle of 60 degrees.
- 3
  Punch a hole at the end of each line about ½ inch from the edge of the circle.
- 4
  Tie a piece of string through each of the holes. Each piece of string should be three times as long as the circle's radius. You can reinforce the string's connection to the bag with a piece of tape.
- 5
  Tie the strings to the basket.

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