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A parachute works by trapping air underneath, but when the air is trapped the pressure increases and some of the air has to escape. If there were no hole in the center of a round parachute, such as the military 'chutes used in WW2, the excess air would have nowhere to escape except under the edges of the 'chute, which would cause increasingly violent oscillation and quickly the collapse of the 'chute, which would drop the parachutist to the ground at high speed and kill him. The central hole allows a controlled release of the air pressure in the 'chute, preventing oscillation and the collapse of the 'chute.

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What is the manipulated variable in a controlled experiment in which a scientist is studying how long it takes a parachutes of different sizes to fall to ground?

The manipulated variable in this experiment would be the size of the parachutes. By changing the size of the parachutes, the scientist can observe how it affects the time it takes for the parachutes to fall to the ground.


In a controlled experiment a scientist is studying how long it takes parachutes of different sizes to fall to the ground what is the variable?

The variable being studied is the size of the parachutes.


Why does smaller parachutes hit the ground before bigger parachutes?

If you have two parachutes, one big and one small, the biggest one will take more time then the other parachute. This happens because there is more room in the parachute which is causing air to go in side, which is air resistance. The smaller parachute has a lot of air resistance because it is smaller and there is less room for the air to go inside. However, the bigger balloon has little air resistance because it has more room in it for the air to get inside. The air is pushing the balloon up so it will fall slower.


Do bigger parachutes have more air resistance or drag force than smaller parachute?

Bigger parachutes have more air resistance and drag force than smaller parachutes. This is because the larger surface area of the bigger parachute creates more friction with the air, resulting in increased resistance and drag.


How does gravity and air resistance affect parachutes?

Gravity and air resistance are the main forces acting on a parachute. Parachutes are pulled towards the ground by gravity, and if there was no parachute, the guy attached to the chute would turn into tomato paste. So parachutes are designed to create the maximum amount of drag (which is air resistance) so the whatever attached lands undamaged. So basically, parachutes create air resistance to reduce the effects of gravity