How does a Parachute Work?

Image Credit: Flickr User HikingArtist, via CC

A parachute helps to land on the ground safely from a height by slowing down the speed of falling things. It is used to escape from aircraft , or any flying machine. It is also used in adventure sports to jump from a mountain or an airplane (sky diving).

But how does a parachute make that possible? Can a big balloon do the same?

If you notice, you will see that parachute is like a half cut balloon. Also, a parachute is very light weight but large. The large area traps lot of air in it during the fall. Now, you know that everything falls down because of gravity. What happens here is that this trapped air creates a push upwards that works against the gravity. This slows down the parachute and whatever is tied to it.

It is similar to a situation where you are putting a lot of force to run fast in the forward direction and somebody comes and starts pulling your hand backwards. You wouldn’t be able to run that fast. Right? Parachute is designed to create a force that lessens the pull of gravity. So the person wearing a parachute falls down slowly and safely to the ground.

Why is a parachute called so?

Think!

The term parachute is coined by putting two french words together “para” which means defense against and “chute” is a fall. So together it makes defense against a fall. 

Flying Parachutes

Using plates to draw a large circle on our plastic bags to make the shape of the parachutes.

We mark 4 equal spaces on our plastic circle with a marker pen.

We measure 4 equal lengths of string and cut.

Then we tie the strings to the parachute.

The fun part is to tie the other side of the strings to the soldier and dropping him from above.

We have to much fun throwing him high into the sky and watch him parachute down.

In my excitement to see my parachute fly, I accidentally

 threw it over to my neighbour's house.

Auntie Mabel is laughing.

Our neighbour is not in, so 

we have to make another one.

Nadeem is trying his parachute first in the garden.

Good job Nadeem.

Next Nabeel goes up the balcony to throw his parachute down.

Down Down Down it goes

Finally, it is Nabeel's turn to throw his parachute.
This time, the parachute flies perfectly and lands on the ground.

Minion Pinata

Auntie Mabel made the body of the minion.

It looks like a bandaged mummy.

Haha

We are excited painting the minion with our yellow paint.

There is a hole in the minion.

I think Mummy  is going to fill it with lots of goodies

for our birthdays.

The minion almost covered with yellow crepe paper.

We painted the legs black.

What it needs now, is one big minion eye,

two black gloves,

one blue overalls

to complete it.

Then it is ready for our birthday parties!!!

Yay!

Can't wait.

Dancing Raisins

Today Auntie Mabel teaches us about buoyancy.  It means that something floats more easily.
We pour some carbonated soda drink into a tall clear glass.
Then add raisins.
To our surprise, the raisins make bubbles and dance up and down.

Why do the raisins float to the top?
It is because of the air in the bubbles that make the raisins more buoyant.
The bubbles make the raisins float just like a life jacket makes a person float.

Why Oil Stays Above Water?

Why does oil stay above the water?

Oil is lighter than water.

The World's Easiest Lava Lamp

What I Need

A clean 1 litre clear soda bottle

3/4 cup of water

Vegetable Oil

Fizzing tablets (such as Alka Seltzer)

I Pour water into the soda bottle. 
Then I pour vegetable oil into the bottle. I notice the oil stays above the water because oil is lighter than water.

Next, I add a few drops of colouring.
It passes through the oil and then mix with the water below.

I then break a sizzling table. The bubbling lava lamp begins.

Use of Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguisher

This is how carbon dioxide is used in a fire extinguisher.

Our birthday parties

Hurray my birthday is coming.

I am celebrating it with my brothers, Nadeem and Najmi.

I will be eight years old.

Nadeem will be five years old and

Najmi will be two years old.

I am so excited.

I hope all my friends can come to my birthday party.

How Plants Use Carbon Dioxide

Nabeel's drawing

Ndeem's drawing

We inhale (breathe in) oxygen and exhale (breathe out) carbon dioxide

Plants inhale carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen. We need lots of plants for oxygen..

1.    Photosynthesis.  Plants change water and carbon dioxide into sugar they can use for food.

Making Lemonade

Auntie Mabel teaches me how to make fizzy lemonade.
First we squeeze all the limes into a glass.
It is the first time I squeeze a lime..
It is very messy but fun too.
I do not like the taste of lime because it is sour.
Auntie Mabel adds some sugar to make it taste nice.
Now I wonder how to make the lime fizzy.

Making my lemonade fizzy

Making lemonade is so easy.
First you squeeze all the limes.
Add some water and sugar.
Finally add 1 teaspoon of baking soda.
Baking Soda reacts with the lime that is acid
and it starts to bubble and make carbon dioxide.
So now I know how they make fizzy soda in a can.

It is fun.  I enjoy the experiment.

Carbon Dioxide

I learn how to make my balloon grow bigger without me blowing.

When I blow up a balloon, I use carbon dioxide from my mouth.

Now I can make a balloon blow without using my carbon dioxide.

First I add vinegar into an empty bottle.

I use a funnel to pour baking soda into the balloon .

I stretch the balloon over the neck of the bottle.

Then I loosen the baking powder into the bottle.

Wow the vinegar (acid) reacts with the baking powder (base)

and it starts to bubble and create carbon dioxide.

See how exciting it is?

Carbon dioxide is used for:

1.  Plants to make food

2. Soda drinks

3. Fire extinguisher

4. Dry Ice to freeze ice cream