A question on air resistance using the parachute experiment. Make a parachute using plastic bag as the material for the canopy of the parachute. Drop parachute from a height to test how well it works.

Hope someone can help me with the following questions:
1) Does a larger plastic sheet drop faster or slower?
2) Make a cut in the middle of the sheet. What can you see?
3) What modifications allow the parachute to reach the ground the slowest?

So for Qn 1, larger plastic sheet drops slower? For Qn 2, parachute will fall straighter?? Will it fall faster or slower?? How to do Qn 3 (what modifications allow the parachute to reach the ground the slowest)? Thanks.

1) The size of the plastic sheet affects how fast the parachute drops. According to air resistance, a larger surface area will create more drag, which slows down the descent. Therefore, a larger plastic sheet will drop slower compared to a smaller one.

2) If you make a cut in the middle of the sheet, you will create a hole or an opening in the canopy. When you drop the parachute, you may observe that the airflow passes through the hole or opening, potentially affecting the descent. While the parachute may still fall straight, the presence of the cut can impact its overall performance.

3) To modify the parachute and make it reach the ground the slowest, you can consider the following modifications:

a) Increase the surface area: Adding more material to the canopy will increase its surface area, creating more drag and slowing down the descent.

b) Longer suspension lines: Increasing the length of the strings or suspension lines that connect the parachute to the object being dropped will ensure the parachute stays open for a longer duration, thereby slowing down the fall.

c) Adding weight: Attaching some weight to the bottom of the parachute, such as small weights or objects, can help slow down the descent by increasing drag.

d) Adjusting the shape: Experimenting with different shapes, such as adding flaps or making the parachute more rounded, can alter the airflow and increase drag, leading to a slower descent.

It's crucial to note that these modifications may have varying effects, and experimenting with different combinations can provide insights into the impact of each modification on the parachute's descent speed.