How is the Terminal Velocity of a Parachute affected by different

masses?

Elley Elley, Thomas Kivarkis and Michael Wehbe

Antonine College 2016

Introduction Method Results Discussion

• The parachute was constructed using a plastic bag cut
The experiment conducted was to investigate the
out in the shape of a circle.
Terminal Velocity of a parachute. Terminal Velocity is According to the graphs the parachute begins at initial
• Several holes were placed within the plastic bag to
defined by the constant speed that a freely falling object Vertical velocity vs. speed of 0 m/s. As it begins to fall the mass of the
place strings through to hold the plasticine all together
(the parachute) eventually reaches, when the air Time graph for the 10g parachute is greater than the air resistance thus the
at the bottom.
resistance it is falling through prevents it from further mass downwards acceleration is large which is shown by the
• Three different masses were created using plasticine,
acceleration. As the parachute falls through the air, there steep line on the graph. At time t = 0.4 seconds it can be
being 10g, 20g, and 30g.
are forces acting upon it, these forces are the force of observed that the parachute reaches terminal velocity at
• A total of three trials were taken for each mass, and
gravity pulling it down and the force of air resistance this time shown by the horizontal line on the graph. After
measurements for acceleration, velocity, and time were
pushing upwards. this time period, the air resistance becomes greater than
recorded. Videos were taken of each trial, then the
motion of parachute was analysed using Tracker. the mass of the parachute causing it to decelerate and
• All masses were dropped from the same height. eventually stop which is represented by the gradient of
the line from t =0.6s to t =1s being less than the gradient
of the line from t =0s to t=0.4s.

The Parachute Model

Vertical velocity
According to Newton’s second law Fnet=ma. R – Mg= vs. Time graph
MA. For the parachute to reach terminal velocity, the for the 20g mass
parachute will need to reach constant speed while free
falling. When constant speed is reached acceleration is
equal to 0. Therefore, R – Mg = 0 which can be
rearranged to R= Mg, thus the parachute will reach Conclusion
terminal velocity when air resistance is equal to its
weight. Plasticine balls of 10g, It was hypothesised that as the mass of plasticine
20g and 30g weight increases, the time taken for the parachute to reach
terminal velocity is increased. By analysing the results,
this hypothesis was rejected as all parachutes of different
Aim Vertical velocity vs.
masses reached their terminal velocity at approximately
Time graph for the the same time yet the measurement of this velocity
The aim is to investigate the terminal velocity of a
30g mass differed, The heavier parachute recorded the greatest
parachute and to observe how different masses of
terminal velocity whereas the lighter parachute recorded
plasticine will alter the time taken for the parachute to
the smallest terminal velocity.
reach its terminal velocity.
Dependant Variables:
- Terminal velocity
- Time taken for the parachute to reach the floor
Independent Variables:
- Mass of Plasticine Parachute being According to Newton’s second law, for a freely falling
released from a
Controlled Variables height of 2.87 meters object to be accelerating, weight must be greater then air
- The parachute in the school lab resistance. However when air resistance and weight are
- The height of release
equal the object or parachute reaches terminal velocity. It Acknowledgements
can be drawn from the graphs that the time taken to
- The environment (i.e. Air Resistance) reach terminal velocity is approximately the same despite Jacaranda Physics VCE Units 1 and 2 pages 154 to 159
Hypothesis the different mass’ of the parachutes. It can also be seen
that the lightest parachute has the smallest terminal
It is hypothesised that as the mass of plasticine is
velocity of 4units per second while the heaviest parachute
increased, the parachute will take a longer time to reach
had the greatest terminal velocity of 5 units per second.
terminal velocity.