[this is school]

Today, Anna, Lena and I did the recovery lab where we made a parachute that had to create the most drag possible! After a little while of thinking, we decided that we would have two layers of the plastic: the under layer and the top layer.
Under layer: has a small-ish hole in the center just like in some parachutes they have a hole in the middle to create drag.
The Top layer: is smooth (has no holes) and is a little larger than the other layer to catch more air.

Then, after that test, we realized we needed to support it so it wouldn't collapse on itself. Then we lined it with tape in lines going outward from the center of the "under layer" and also made a border of tape. This time, it seemed to work best. It still fell rather quickly, but we all noticed it having more drag than the last time, and especially rather than just dropping the object with out the parachute!! Something I was kinda surprised by was how much more challenging it was to create maximum drag.. it seemed easier said than done in some parts! This lab related to Newton's 3rd law (every object has an equal and opposite reaction) because the parachute's weight is pulling it down, but the air is going against the parachute (the air is headed up) so it will create drag for the parachute and give it an equal and opposite reaction!!

Labels: M2M