Project Details
Theme
November | Physics
Messy Level
1
Suggested Location
Class or outside
Prep & Classroom Structure
Prep:
Scout out accessible locations around the school for the drop at different heights.
Make enough bags of pre-organized materials for student groups.
I would not limit the type of parachute. Offer coffee filters, plastic bags, tissue papers etc.
Class flow:
Share video and summarize concept
Split groups into teams
Provide pre-filled bags to students along with establishing some rules.
Allow time for students to design their lego figurine
What’s Happening?
This experiment demonstrates gravity and air resistance, also called drag. Gravity pulls the parachute downward, while the large surface area of the parachute pushes against more air particles, creating drag that slows the fall. This experiment demonstrates gravity and air resistance, also called drag. Gravity pulls the parachute downward, while the large surface area of the parachute pushes against more air particles, creating drag that slows the fall.
Materials
Coffee filter or another lightweight parachute material
Small paper or plastic cup
String
Tape
Scissors
Lego figurine pieces
Project Instructions
Cut three equal lengths of string with adult help.
Tape the strings evenly around the outside edge of the coffee filter.
Tape the loose ends of the strings evenly around the areas of lego figure
Check that the lego figure hangs level beneath the parachute.
First, drop the figure without the parachute and observe how quickly it falls.
Next, attach the parachute and drop the figure again from the same height.
Compare the two drops and observe how much the parachute slows the fall.
If the parachute falls too quickly, redesign it by changing the size, material, or shape of the parachute.
Redesign the lego figure, make them taller, heavier or add two figures.
Test each version from the same height and compare which design produces the slowest, safest landing.