http://www.teachengineering.org/view_activity.php?url=collection/wpi_/activities/wpi_design_a_parachute/design_a_parachute.xmlactivitytext/xmlCenter for Engineering Educational Outreach, air resistancedesigndraggravitymotionparachute

After a discussion about what a parachute is and how it works, students create parachutes using different materials that they think will work best. They test their designs, and then contribute to a class discussion (and possible journal writing) to report which paper materials worked best.

Aerodynamics and fluid flow concepts are used by engineers to design planes, parachutes and ships. Accounting for drag is an important aspect of these designs; engineers redesign the shape and materials used to get better results. Techniques for designing a parachute that falls slowly. How to determine which type of material works best by testing different options. How air resistance plays a role in flying.60TeachEngineering.orgS101D432MassachusettsScience1.1 Given a design task, identify appropriate materials (e.g., wood, paper, plastic, aggregates, ceramics, metals, solvents, adhesives) based on specific properties and characteristics (e.g., weight, strength, hardness, and flexibility).68S1011180MassachusettsScience2.3 Describe and explain the purpose of a given prototype.68S1010C69MassachusettsScience2.4 Identify appropriate materials, tools, and machines needed to construct a prototype of a given engineering design.68S1004F28MassachusettsScience2.5 Explain how such design features as size, shape, weight, function, and cost limitations would affect the construction of a given prototype.68United StatesCopyright 2012 - Center for Engineering Educational Outreach, Tufts Universityhttp://www.teachengineering.org/policy_ipp.phphttp://www.teachengineering.org/2011-11-157Teacher