SJK (T) ALOR GAJAH,

78000 ALOR GAJAH,

MELAKA.

PARACHUT
E

PROBLEM

How does a
parachutes shape
and material
affect the speed
at which it falls?

AIM 1
To investigate the relationship
between the materials of the
parachute and the speed of
fall.

AIM 2

To investigate the relationship

between the shape of the
parachute and the speed of fall.

HYPOTHESIS 1
The parachute made from plastic
took longer time to reach the ground
compared than the parachute that
made from nylon and cotton cloth.

HYPOTHESIS 2
The octagon shape parachute
took longer time to reach the
ground compared to rectangular
and square shape parachutes.

APPARATUS NEEDED

Stop
Watch

Calculator

Hole
punch

Paper Cup

Marker Pen

Trash bag

Sturdy
string

Nylon
cloth

Cotton
cloth

Transparent
tape

Metal
ruler

Scissors

VARIABLES
Manipulated
1. The shape of the
parachute
2. The material of the
parachute

Responding
Constant

1. Area of the parachute

(1600cm)
2. Weight of the jumper
3. Length of the string
(40cm )
4. Height drop of the
parachute (3m )

Time taken by the

parachute to reach the
ground

Experiment Procedures
1. The shapes of a square, rectangle ,and
octagon are drawn on the trash bag.
2. The shapes are cut using a pair of scissors.
3. The eight edges at the end of each shape
are marked using a marker.
4. Reinforce the marked area with the
transparent tape.
5. A hole in each marked area using hole
punch is made.
6. The string is tied at each of the hole.

Experiment Procedures
7. The string is fixed with the jumper.
8. The parachutes are ready for the experiment.
9. The parachutes are attached on the hanger
machine which holds the parachute in
positions.
10.
The hanger machine is raised to certain height.
11.
The parachutes are released at the same time.
12.
The time taken by each parachute to reach the
ground is recorded.
13.
The experiments are repeated for 5 times and
calculated the average speed.
14.
Another experiment is done by manipulating
the material of the parachutes.

Results
Experiment 1
Time taken to reach the
Type of
materials

Average

ground
T1

T2

T3

T4

T5

Time

Speed

Cotton cloth

1.08 1.56 1.24 1.66 1.49

1.41

2.13

Nylon cloth

1.61 1.81 1.66 1.86 1.91

1.77

1.69

Plastic Bag

2.20 2.29 3.56 4.01 4.11

3.23

0.93

Results

Cotto
n

Nylon

Plastic

Results
Experiment 2
Shape of
the
Parachute

Square
Rectangle
Octagon

Time taken to reach the ground

Average Speed

T1

T2

T3

T4

T5

2.76

3.96

1.76

1.91

1.79

2.44

1.23

1.75

2.23

1.66

1.43

1.16

1.65

1.82

3.01

2.4

1.95

3.58

2.94

2.78

1.08

Results

Squar
e

Rectangl
e

Octagon

Discussions - Experiment 1
To calculate the speed of the parachute we
use the formula below:
Speed = distance travelled (m)
Time taken (s)

The parachute with the lightest

material (trash bag) took longer time
to fall an average and the parachute
with the heaviest material (cotton
cloth) did fall faster an average.

Discussions - Experiment 2
To calculate the speed of the parachute we use
the formula below:
Speed = distance travelled (m)
Time taken (s)

The result shows that the parachute in the

shape of a octagon have the slowest
descend because there will be more drag
and air resistance acting on the octagon
shape causing it to have the slowest
descend.

Conclusion - Experiment 1
Our conclusion is that our hypothesis was
supported, the parachute with the heaviest weight
did fall faster than the parachute with the lightest
weight. Therefore the speed of the parachute was
effected by the parachute materials.

Conclusion - Experiment 2
We believe the results we have collected are
reasonably reliable although there are some
miscellaneous results such as effect by the wind
from the surrounding and place. Any way It was
concluded that the octagon shape parachute
demonstrated the slowest overall average descend
rate compared to rectangular and square shape
parachutes.

Thank
You!