How do you calculate the drag coefficient of a parachute?

The drag equation states that the drag (D) is equal to some drag coefficient (Cd) times half of the air density (r) times the square of the velocity (V) times the reference area (A).

How much force does a parachute open?

As it turns out, you are accelerating the most when you pull open your parachute! In this case, your body is slowing down at an average rate of 27 meters per second, per second, according to data collected by Rob Nelson. That is nearly a force of 3 G’s, or 2.75 times standard gravity!

What are the forces acting on the parachute while falling on the ground?

The main forces acting on a parachute are gravity and drag. When you first release the parachute, the force of gravity pulls it downward, and the parachute speeds toward the ground. The faster the parachute falls, though, the more drag it creates.

What is drag on a parachute?

The force working against gravity that a parachute takes advantage of is called air resistance or drag. When a skydiver releases a parachute, it unfolds and quickly traps air molecules, effectively increasing the amount of air resistance and slowing the skydiver to a safe descent speed.

How do you make a parachute fall slower?

The larger the surface area, the more air resistance and the slower the parachute will drop. Cutting a small hole in the middle of the parachute will allow air to slowly pass through it rather than spilling out over one side, this should help the parachute fall straighter.

How does a parachute change the skydiver’s terminal velocity?

As the skydiver gains speed, their weight stays the same but the air resistance increases. There is no resultant force and the skydiver reaches terminal velocity. When the parachute opens, the air resistance increases. The skydiver slows down until a new, lower terminal velocity is reached.

How do parachutes increase drag?

When a skydiver releases a parachute, it unfolds and quickly traps air molecules, effectively increasing the amount of air resistance and slowing the skydiver to a safe descent speed. The larger the parachute, the more surface area it will have to trap air molecules and the greater its drag will be.

How does drag affect parachutes?

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.