How Does Airflow Impact a Parachute's Freefall?

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SUMMARY

Airflow significantly impacts a parachute's freefall by creating drag that slows its descent. The larger the surface area of the parachute, the lower the terminal velocity due to increased air resistance. As the parachute descends, it traps air, which exerts an upward force on the canopy, in accordance with Newton's third Law of Motion. This interaction between the parachute and the air is crucial for controlling descent speed and stability.

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How is it that airflow affects the freefall of a parachute?

Obviously the larger the surface area of a parchute the slower the terminal velocity but how does the air interefere with a parachute or does it have no affect?

:eek::confused::eek:
 
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Think of it this way. The air is sitting there minding its own business when this parachute comes by, traps it and accelerates it down. In other words the canopy exerts force on the trapped air. By Newton's third Law (to every action there is an equal and opposite reaction), the air would exert an equal an upward force on the canopy which slows the parachute down.
 

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