1. Parachute Design Unit

2. Design a parachute that will safely deliver its cargo to the ground according to the following constraints: * The parachute must be made from the materials provided or materials you provide that are approved by the instructor. * The parachute must obtain a constant velocity before it lands. * The parachute must safely deliver the cargo (to be determined by the instructor) when dropped from a height of 12 feet.

3. * You will collect, analyze, and interpret data and you will be able to use this data to make design decisions, specifically for designing a parachute. * You will be able to compose detailed sketches of possible designs that effectively communicate the design’s intent and use these sketches to make prototypes and the final product. * You will be able to evaluate your preliminary design, and you will be able to design and execute an evaluation plan to evaluate your prototype models. * You will know how to predict problems in final production by creating prototype models of your designs. * You will know how a team works together in construction, and you will be able to construct your parachute and evaluate it for the design constraints.

4. Restate the purpose of the design challenge. * What does the prototype have to do to be successful?

5. Research: * What is the main purpose of parachutes? * What forces will be acting on the parachute? * Include a definition of air resistance. * Include a force diagram * What is terminal velocity?

6. Research: * How does the size and shape of the parachute affect its fall? * How do the weights and properties of different materials affect the way they behave? * How do the number, placement, and type of supports affect the effectiveness of the parachute? * The plan should consider how the load will be attached.

7. Considerations: * Brainstorm many ideas and pick three that your team likes best. * The load will be attached with a D ring. Your design must include how you will attach the parachute to the D ring. * The cargo must land safely.

8. Considerations: * Prepare three sketches of possible parachute designs. * Include rough dimensions. * Include notes on fasteners, attachments, and construction ideas. * PRODUCT: Three sketches

9. * Explain why you choose the model you did * Give 3 reasons. * Give several complete sentences that gives the teacher enough information to understand your choice. * Use proper grammar, spelling and punctuation

10. * Design a plan for evaluating the prototype (procedure) * Design tests to ensure your design is valid, reliable, and possible. * Determine how you will record your findings. * PRODUCTS: * Document: Reason you choose the model you did. * Document: Evaluation Plan

11. Construct a prototype of your parachute. * Execute the designed tests and record the results * Update all sketches and drawings to show the results of the prototype testing. PRODUCTS: Document consisting of Data- Recording Tool, Prototype of parachute

12. Construct your parachute by following and amending the Build Plan. * Upon completion of construction we will evaluate your parachute according to the design constraints. PRODUCTS: * Finished parachute. * Document: Analysis of parachute fall.

13. Present your parachute to the class. * Display and explain your findings. * Explain the choices you made and the challenges you faced.