The Parachute

Physical laws are exploited in nature and engineering. Our group was busy comparing parachutes to dandelion seeds: Gravity makes it so that all objects are pulled towards the centre of the earth. The centre of mass, that is the point of an object, upon which the weight acts, tries to occupy the lowest possible position. Because of this, a parachuter hangs below the still folded parachute after the jump. The seed hits the earth and drills itself into the ground. The air resistance causes the parachute/seed to slow down during its fall. The air is pressed into the parachute and opposes the gravitational attraction of the earth. The canopy is so big in order to capture as much air as possible. In the case of the dandelion, the parachute consists of numerous tiny little hairs. The centre of mass is at the end of the stalk.