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Parachute Drop Test

Build parachutes of different sizes and find out how canopy size changes how long a toy takes to fall.

Grade 5BuildExperimentScienceEngineeringPhysicsEngineeringMeasurementIntermediate40 to 60 min6 materialsAdult supervision required

What you'll learn

  • Build a parachute and change one design variable
  • Time a fall accurately and average several trials
  • Explain air resistance

Objective

Test how the size of a parachute changes its fall time, and explain the result using air resistance.

STEM concepts

Air resistanceGravityEngineering designFair testing
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Materials and safety
Step-by-step instructions
Prediction, test sheet and results
Why does it work, challenge and project report

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