Parachute

physics · flying · safety

Catches the air. A parachute works by spreading out a huge piece of fabric that pushes against the air as it falls. This push, called drag, slows down whatever is attached to it so it reaches the ground safely instead of falling fast.

Made from nylon. Modern parachutes are usually made from strong nylon fabric that can handle the force of air pushing against it. The fabric is stitched together into different shapes depending on what the parachute needs to do.

More than just people. While parachutes are famous for helping skydivers jump safely from planes, they also slow down cargo boxes, help space capsules land on Earth, and even help scientists land rovers on Mars and other planets.

Different designs. Parachutes come in different shapes like domes, rectangles, and inverted domes. Each shape works best for different jobs, whether it's holding a person, a package, or a spacecraft.

Ancient ideas. People thought about parachutes for hundreds of years before they actually worked. The first successful parachute jumps happened in the late 1700s and 1800s.