How to Make a Parachute and Learn About Air Resistance

19 May 2025

Ever wondered how a parachute works? Why does it slow you down when falling from a height? The answer lies in a fundamental concept of physics—air resistance.

Making a DIY parachute is a fun and educational project for kids and adults alike. Not only does it teach the basics of aerodynamics, but it also helps us understand how air resistance plays a role in slowing objects down. In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of making a simple parachute and explain the science behind it.

What Is Air Resistance?

Before we dive into making a parachute, let's break down air resistance—also known as drag.

When an object moves through the air, it pushes against air molecules. These molecules push back against the object, creating resistance. The larger the surface area of an object, the more air it pushes against, and the greater the resistance.

Think about skydivers. If they fall freely without deploying their parachutes, they accelerate quickly toward the ground due to gravity. However, once they open their parachutes, the large surface area dramatically increases air resistance, slowing their descent and allowing them to land safely. That’s exactly how a parachute works!

Now, let's bring this concept to life by making our own parachute.

Materials Needed

Creating a parachute is simple and requires materials you likely already have at home. Here’s what you’ll need:

- Plastic bag or a piece of lightweight fabric (e.g., a plastic grocery bag, tissue paper, or a handkerchief)
- Scissors
- String or thread (about four equal pieces)
- Tape or hole punch
- Small object to act as weight (e.g., a toy figure, small rock, or paperclip)

Once you have everything, it’s time to start building!

Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Parachute

1. Cut the Canopy

Your parachute needs a canopy—this is the part that catches air. Cut a square or circular shape out of your plastic bag or fabric. If you're unsure about the size, start with a 12-inch by 12-inch square.

A larger canopy means more air resistance, while a smaller one will fall faster. If you want to experiment with different sizes, go for it!

2. Create the Suspension Lines

Next, cut four equal lengths of string (about 12 inches each). These will act as the suspension lines connecting the canopy to the parachute's load (your small object).

If using a plastic bag, make small holes near the four corners and tie one piece of string to each. If using fabric, you can punch holes or tape the string securely to the edges.

3. Attach the Weight

Now, gather the four strings and tie them together at the ends. Attach your small object (the weight) by tying or taping it securely to the strings.

Make sure the weight is centered so the parachute stays balanced when it falls.

4. Test Your Parachute

It’s time for the exciting part—testing your parachute! Find a safe height to drop it from. A staircase, second-floor balcony, or playground structure works well.

Hold the parachute by the canopy, lift it high, and let it go. Watch how it floats down!

How Air Resistance Affects the Parachute

As the parachute falls, the air pushes against the wide canopy, creating resistance. This slows the descent and allows the object to fall gently instead of crashing to the ground.

Want to make it even more interesting? Try altering different variables:

- Change the canopy size – A larger parachute will fall more slowly since it catches more air.
- Use different materials – Test whether paper, fabric, or plastic makes a difference in descent speed.
- Adjust the weight – A heavier object might fall faster despite the parachute’s resistance.

By tweaking these factors, you can better understand how air resistance and gravity interact.

Fun Science Behind Parachutes

Parachutes rely on two main forces:

1. Gravity – This pulls the parachute and its load toward the ground.
2. Air Resistance – The parachute catches air, creating an upward force that opposes gravity and slows the fall.

Want a real-world example? Imagine sticking your hand out of a moving car window. If your hand is flat, the wind pushes against it more, making it harder to move forward. But if you tilt your hand vertically, there's less resistance, and it moves more easily.

Parachutes work the same way—they maximize air resistance to counteract gravity.

Real-Life Applications of Parachutes

Parachutes aren’t just for fun—they serve critical roles in many fields.

1. Skydiving and Military Use

Parachutes help skydivers land safely and allow paratroopers to drop into combat zones.

2. Spacecraft Landings

NASA and other space agencies use parachutes to slow down spacecraft re-entering Earth's atmosphere. Without them, landers would hit the ground too fast and crash.

3. Rescue Operations

Parachutes are used to drop emergency supplies in disaster zones where planes or helicopters can't land.

Understanding parachutes isn't just about science—it’s about real-world problem-solving and safety!

Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

If your parachute isn’t working as expected, don’t worry! Here are some common problems and solutions:

- Problem: The parachute falls too fast.
Solution: Increase the canopy size or use a lighter weight.

- Problem: It spins wildly instead of floating down smoothly.
Solution: Check if all strings are the same length and properly attached. Uneven suspension lines can cause instability.

- Problem: The parachute doesn’t fully open.
Solution: Try a stiffer material for the canopy or ensure the strings aren’t tangled. Adding a slight curve to the canopy may help it catch air more effectively.

Experimenting with these fixes will make your parachute perform even better!

Conclusion

Making a parachute is a fun and educational activity that brings science to life. It helps us understand how air resistance works and why it's crucial in real-world applications.

By tweaking various elements like canopy size, material, and weight, you can experiment and discover how different factors affect air resistance and gravity.

So, grab some materials and start crafting your parachute—you'll not only learn science in action but also have a blast watching it float through the air!