Why does a man with a parachute descend slowly?

Answer 1

A parachute will slow down a free-fall by catching the air rushing past you. It's large, bag-like shape greatly contributes to the air resistance working against the gravitational pull, and so slows your fall down a point that it is no longer dangerous.

Answer 2

Gravity is pulling the man down while friction with the air slows him down. With the parachute out it adds more friction slowing him down.

<><><>

Agree with above. Because air resistance works against the VERY large surface area of the parachute. While gravity is pulling you at 32 ft/sec/sec, the act of pushing air (which has mass) out of the way slows your progress towards the ground. A free falling skydiver that has not yet opened his parachute can make his downward speed vary between about 110 mph and 225 mph- using air resistance. A spread eagled position presents the max area, and you fall the slowest. However, if you tuck arms and legs in tight, and assume a head down position, you have the smallest area, and fall much faster

Answer 3

If we're talking about a round parachute, then simply increasing the size, or reducing the suspended weight will reduce the descent rate. For Ram Air (square) parachutes, again the simplest way to slow both the descent and the forward air speed would be to reduce the wing loading. Reduce the wing loading by either increasing the canopy size, or again reducing the suspended weight. We train students under relatively large canopies, typically with a wing loading of less than 1 to 1. Experienced skydivers typically load anywhere from 1 to 1 up to over 2.5 to 1. And finally, to slow down both descent and forward speed for landing we flair a ram air canopy. Pulling both steering toggles (pulls down the trailing edge of the canopy), we transition forward speed for lift.

Answer 4

Parachutes slow you down by creating air resistance or drag .

Answer 5

Air particles go up and slow the parachute as it equals the weight with the person and they go slowly.

Answer 6

A parachute has a large surface area so friction with the air is large. This friction, or air resistance, causes the parachute and person attached to it, to come down slowly.

Answer 7

To slow down a parachute, pull both steering toggles smoothly down as far as they will go.