The aim of this experiment is to investigate what effect the surface area of a parachute has on the terminal velocity of the parachute.

 

Variables: There are different variables that can be changed in this experiment.

Prediction: The variable that I will be changing is the Surface Area. I predict that when the surface area is reduced the speed will increase. I expect to get this result because there will be less air resistance air that can be trapped. So the velocity will need to be higher to balance the Air Resistance.  

Fair Test: This experiment can be a fair test is all the variable apart from the one I am changing are kept the same.

So the mass will need to be kept the same and the height from which I am going to drop the parachute will be the same but the surface area will be altered continuously as this is what I am recording.

The air vents will need to be kept closed as the air will effect which direction my parachute will fall in and this will increase the distance my parachute will be falling as the parachute will be falling in a curve. There is also a small time that it takes for the parachute to open up, before this time the parachute will be on freefall and this will decrease the time taken for the parachute to reach the ground.

 Apparatus:

There is very little apparatus I need to conduct this experiment.

1. A polythene bag that can be cut and converted into the parachute
2. Strings
3. Weights
4. Measuring tape

Method:  My experiment was made up of a few simple steps, I have stated these steps below:

1. At first I drew grids on my parachute for 3600cm2, 2500cm2, 1600cm2, 900cm2, 400cm2 and 100cm2.
2.  The I cut the parachute down so that it had the surface area of 60cm * 60cm, so the parachute had a total surface area of 3600cm2.  
3. Then I made the holes in all the corners. Through these holes I was also able to tie two strings (from opposite corner to opposite corner)

As you can see from the diagram above

4. After tying the strings we can just attach the weights and tape them on.
5. Once this is done