MadSci Network: Engineering
Query:

Re: WHY DO PARACHUTS HAVE HOLES IN THEM

Date: Tue Feb 8 00:23:48 2005
Posted By: Neil Saunders, Research fellow
Area of science: Engineering
ID: 1098976818.Eg
Message:

Hi Bryan,

I believe there are 2 reasons to have holes in parachutes. The first is to make the parachute open more gently. A skydiver in free fall is moving at about 200 km per hour, so the air slamming into a newly-opened parachute exerts a lot of force. By allowing a small amount of air to flow through the top of the parachute, the deceleration is less abrupt, so there is less likely to be damage to both parachute and skydiver!

The second reason is that as a parachute descends, air is forced into the canopy and without a hole, it can only escape by flowing out of the sides. This causes the parachute to swing, so more air escapes from the opposite side and the parachute is now swinging back and forth, like a pendulum. This is dangerous - you would not want to land as you were swinging downwards. A small vent at the top of the parachute lets air escape from the top, preventing the swinging motion.

You might like this website with details of parachute design.

Neil


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