Parachute Drop Contest
Thinking as an Engineer:
You MUST think as an engineer! Engineers fail, did you know that? They build something, they test it, and when it doesn't work they change it. They don't get upset if it doesn't work, they take what they have learned, and they keep working at it until their final product is significantly better than their first.
Your Project:
Design a parachute that will fall as slowly as possible. We will time how long it takes at 3 different weights. You are going to make 3 different parachutes as you get feedback from your tests. You will also gather ideas from books, the internet, your peers, and your teachers. At the end we will have a contest where you compare your design to your classmates. After the final contest, anyone interested in revising their parachutes for a 4th time are welcome to do so at lunch in the Learning Commons!
What You Are Expected to Learn:
Links:
The links will be added shortly. Some possible search terms in Google are:
-Model Parachute Designs
-Parachute diagram
-Types of parachutes
If you find great links, please add them to the "Resource Suggestions" page, and they will be posted here, soon!
Prototypes:
Please use the sheet below to test your prototypes. You are welcome to do as many prototypes as you would like.
You MUST think as an engineer! Engineers fail, did you know that? They build something, they test it, and when it doesn't work they change it. They don't get upset if it doesn't work, they take what they have learned, and they keep working at it until their final product is significantly better than their first.
Your Project:
Design a parachute that will fall as slowly as possible. We will time how long it takes at 3 different weights. You are going to make 3 different parachutes as you get feedback from your tests. You will also gather ideas from books, the internet, your peers, and your teachers. At the end we will have a contest where you compare your design to your classmates. After the final contest, anyone interested in revising their parachutes for a 4th time are welcome to do so at lunch in the Learning Commons!
What You Are Expected to Learn:
- How to conduct tests of your model parachute design, and identify design changes to improve the effectiveness of the design.
- Understand that air takes up space and the concept of drag.
- That engineers learn from prototypes as they develop their final product.
- That gravity is pulling the parachutes down, but it is not the only force.
- That air resistance is the helping to slow parachutes down.
Links:
The links will be added shortly. Some possible search terms in Google are:
-Model Parachute Designs
-Parachute diagram
-Types of parachutes
If you find great links, please add them to the "Resource Suggestions" page, and they will be posted here, soon!
Prototypes:
Please use the sheet below to test your prototypes. You are welcome to do as many prototypes as you would like.
prototype_sheet.pdf | |
File Size: | 452 kb |
File Type: |
Maker Station:
The document below if for the maker station poster at our school. If you would like to get some ideas, come check it out!
The document below if for the maker station poster at our school. If you would like to get some ideas, come check it out!
parachutes_maker_station.pdf | |
File Size: | 303 kb |
File Type: |
Collaboration:
Click this link to edit the document below. It will take a while to update here, but it will be updated! You must use your CBE username and password to log in. So we will be able to see who has made which edits. Please be respectful!
Click this link to edit the document below. It will take a while to update here, but it will be updated! You must use your CBE username and password to log in. So we will be able to see who has made which edits. Please be respectful!