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How to Use a Parachute to Demonstrate the Resistance of Gravity

Parachutes flying through the air have multiple forces acting upon them -- primarily air resistance and gravity. In a world without air resistance, objects would fall to the ground at the same rate regardless of their size or shape. However, because air resistance creates drag, larger parachutes descend more slowly than smaller ones if all other factors are equal. You can demonstrate the effect air resistance has on the pull of gravity by launching parachutes of different sizes and observing the rate at which they fall to the ground.

Things You'll Need

Two Sturdy plastic bags
Spool of thread or string
Permanent marker
Scissors
Ruler
Adhesive tape
Two small figurines

Instructions

- 1
  Draw a circle with a permanent marker on a sturdy plastic bag with a radius measuring 20 inches. Draw a second circle on the other plastic bag with a radius measuring 10 inches. Cut out the circles with a pair of scissors.
- 2
  Divide each circle into six equal sections using a ruler and a permanent marker, like slices of a pizza. Punch a small hole on each line near the edge of the circle large enough to feed a piece of string through it.
- 3
  Cut six pieces of string per circle. The length of each piece of string should equal 1-1/2 times the radius of the circle. For the 20-inch circle, the length of the strings should be 20 inches. For the 10-inch circle, the length of the strings should be 15 inches. Tie one string to each hole in the circles and secure the strings with small pieces of adhesive tape.
- 4
  For each circle, tie the other ends of the string to the small figurine in a way such that the figurine hangs straight. Make sure that the figurine you choose is not heavy -- the best objects are made of plastic and have dimensions not larger than a closed fist.
- 5
  Launch your parachutes by ascending to a level at least 10-to-20 feet above ground. Hold your parachutes at an equal height and release them simultaneously. Observe which parachute reaches the ground first. The 10-inch parachute should descend more rapidly than the 20-inch parachute due to the effect air resistance has on the force of gravity.

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