What happens immediately after skydiver opens her parachute?

Answer 1

When her parachute opens, the air resistance increases. Now there is a resultant force going upwards on the parachute.

The increase in air resistance occurs because when the parachute is opened there is a much larger surface area (than before) so the particles of air are much more likely to get 'caught up' in the parachute unable to pass easily, therefore creating more air resistance (an upwards force) and so slowing down the parachutist.

NOTE: The parachutist does NOT move upwards after the parachute has opened, they just slow down. This effect comes from when a parachutist with a camera is filming opposite, they are still falling rapidly while the other person's parachute has opened, therefore passing them as they continue to freefall, and so the parachutist opposite appears to move upwards after opening the parachute.

Answer 2

The main parachute system is designed to be released. This is done by pulling one handle, and through a system of a "three ring device" the skydiver falls away from the main parachute. He'll then deploy his reserve parachute. After landing the main parachute, and reserve pilot chute and freebag are located, all is packed up again and we're back on the airplane!

Answer 3

Once a skydiver deploys his pilot chute, the drag created pulls the closing pin (attached to the bridle) and the deployment bag, containing the main canopy, is released. As the deployment bag is pulled upward, the lines are released from their rubber band stowes, which opens the deployment bag and exposes the main canopy. There is a rectangular slider made of the same parachute material as the canopy that slides down from the canopy to the risers that attach the canopy lines to the container (and thus to the skydiver). This ensures a slow, controlled canopy opening and a safe reduction in fall rate from terminal velocity to a much slower speed. The main canopy is fully deployed when the canopy is square (rectangular, actually) and the slider is all the way down and touching the risers. Now, after a controlability check, the skydiver is able to maneuver his canopy and make a safe, soft landing.