Flight of the Fruit: Weight, Gravity and Imagination
Testing a model parachute can tell us many things and help us learn about a variety of concepts, such as proportionate size and scale, gravity, air resistance, weight relationships. In this freeform activity about preventing free-falling, students design their own model parachutes while considering factors in their test drops such as distance, weight, and time.
Testing out a parachute!Copyright Ashley Whitehead, University of Florida MRET
Air resistance, mass, and gravity are concepts used by engineers to design parachutes and other technology such as rockets, airplanes, racecars, sports equipment, and more. Accounting for air resistance, or drag, is an important aspect of these designs. As technology improves, engineers redesign inventions by changing materials or by redesigning a vehicle to take advantage of aerodynamic properties.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Explain the force of gravity.
- Estimate and measure size differences that occur from a falling object.
- Design and create a functioning parachute.