How come the parachute does not get tangled up?

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter RRC
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Parachute
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the mechanics of parachutes and why they do not become tangled during deployment and descent. Participants explore various factors that may contribute to this phenomenon, including physical forces and design elements.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that swivels are a key component in preventing tangling of parachute lines.
  • Others propose that centripetal force and air resistance within the parachute play a role in keeping the lines from tangling.
  • One participant expresses a desire for a parachute, indicating interest in its functionality.
  • There are discussions about the perception of the parachute's orientation and how it may appear to spin horizontally while being vertical.
  • A later reply discusses the mechanics of spinning and how it may not lead to entanglement if the attachment point is correctly positioned.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express multiple competing views regarding the mechanisms that prevent tangling, and the discussion remains unresolved with no consensus reached.

Contextual Notes

Some claims depend on assumptions about the forces at play and the design of parachutes, which are not fully explored or defined in the discussion.

RRC
Messages
1
Reaction score
0


how come the parachute does not get tangled up?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Swivels. Plus a long enough line on the harness that it probably doesn't need swivels.
 
It could be that the centripetal force and the air resistance inside the parachute keeps it from tangling.
 
outstanding !

but would be banned in any western country by the military, air traffic control, homeland security and a bunch of other killjoy govt departments ;)
 
Firedog89 said:
It could be that the centripetal force and the air resistance inside the parachute keeps it from tangling.
doesn't need that the lines from the parachute cone to a central point then a single line down to the unit
a swivel, as suggested, at that point, would be the easiest way to stop the chute lines from tangling :)
 
RRC said:


how come the parachute does not get tangled up?

perspective. it looks it is spining horizontal but it´s already vertical. The clibing seems cool, the spining creats the efect for verticality
 
joao paulo said:
perspective. it looks it is spining horizontal but it´s already vertical.
Maybe. But even spinning around a horizontal axis would not entangle the rope, if it attaches to a point on that axis at the circumference. Just like a gyro spinning around an horizontal axis, which is supported by a rope on just one side.
 
A.T. said:
Maybe. But even spinning around a horizontal axis would not entangle the rope, if it attaches to a point on that axis at the circumference. Just like a gyro spinning around an horizontal axis, which is supported by a rope on just one side.
agree
 

Similar threads

Undergrad Effect of vent ratio on the drag coefficient of round parachutes
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
High School How to deploy parachute after balloon pops
  • · Replies 29 ·
Replies
29
Views
4K
High School Direction of Resultant Force on a Skydiver After Opening Parachute
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
Undergrad How to calculate Drag Coefficient?
  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
14K
Undergrad Parachute design help - children's book
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
Effect of Surface Area on the Drag Coefficient of a Parachute
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K
Can a parasail support its tow vehicle like a parachute sailer?
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
3K
Paper Rocket Parachute Deployment
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
5K
Undergrad Time taken for a parachute to fall
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
8K
High School Conservation of Energy: Ball on a U-Shaped Ramp
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
944