Use the concepts of force, acceleration, and speed to explain how a parachute works. Make sure your answer explains how Newton’s laws of motion play a part.
The force of gravity and tension force exerted by the ropes the parachute. These forces are unbalanced which causes the speed of the downward motion to change thus causing acceleration.
I Googled it for anyone who wants to know since PsyDAG said too
A parachute works based on the principles of force, acceleration, and speed in conjunction with Newton's laws of motion. Let me explain how these concepts apply to the functioning of a parachute.
Newton's first law of motion states that an object at rest tends to stay at rest, and an object in motion tends to stay in motion with the same speed and direction unless acted upon by an external force. In the case of a parachute, when a person jumps out of an aircraft, both the person and the parachute are initially at rest with respect to the aircraft.
When the person pulls the parachute cord, it creates an external force on the parachute system. Newton's second law of motion relates force, mass, and acceleration, stating that the force acting on an object is equal to its mass multiplied by its acceleration (F = m * a).
As the parachute opens, it increases the surface area exposed to the surrounding air, which leads to an increase in air resistance acting on the parachute. Air resistance is the force that opposes the motion of an object through the air and acts opposite to the object's velocity. The larger surface area of the parachute causes a greater air resistance force to act on it.
The increased air resistance force results in a reaction force, according to Newton's third law of motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The reaction force of the air pushing against the parachute creates an upward force called the drag force.
The drag force acting on the parachute opposes the force of gravity pulling the person downward. This creates a net force acting in the upward direction that is greater than the force of gravity. As a result, the person and parachute system experience a decrease in acceleration due to the opposing forces, which leads to a decrease in speed.
Eventually, the forces of gravity and air resistance reach equilibrium, where the downward force of gravity equals the upward force of air resistance. At this point, the person and parachute reach a terminal velocity, which is the maximum speed attained during freefall. The parachute continues to slow down the person's descent due to the drag force, allowing a controlled and safe descent to the ground.
In conclusion, a parachute works by utilizing the principles of force, acceleration, and speed in accordance with Newton's laws of motion. The increase in surface area of the parachute leads to an increase in air resistance force, which counters the force of gravity and slows down the person's descent, providing a safe landing.