how to make a large parachute

How to Make a Large Parachute.

Parachutes are a great way to learn about gravity and air resistance. They are also a great way to pass the time, especially once you begin to experiment with different weights and sizes. If you already know how to make a simple parachute, why not try a larger, more advanced one instead?

1. Cut a 24-inch (61-centimeter) square out of a cheap, plastic tablecloth. Make sure it is the thin kind; the kind that have the felt coating on the back will be too thick for this project. If you can't find any cheap, plastic tablecloths, use a large trash bag instead.

This parachute will work on action figures that are 3 to 4 inches (7.6 to 10 centimeters) tall, like Star Wars action figures.

2. Cut a 5-inch (13-centimeter) square out of each corner. Fold the square in half to make a rectangle, then fold it in half again to make a square. Draw a 5-inch (13-centimeter) square on the corner where all four corners are loose (not joined). Cut the square out, going through all four layers, then unfold the square. You will have something that looks like a plus sign.

3. Tape together the cut corners along the bottom point. Go to the first corner you cut the 5-inch (13-centimeter) square from. Push the edges together to close the square. Place a 2-inch (5-centimeter) piece of tape halfway over the bottom edge. Leave the bottom half of the tape hanging over the edge of the tablecloth.

Do this for the remaining three corners.

4. Flip the tablecloth over and fold the pieces of tape onto the back. Flip the tablecloth cove. You should still see the pieces of tape sticking out from underneath it. Fold each piece of tape over the edge of the table cloth. Now the corners are taped on both sides.

You will have something that looks like a bag or basket with a slit in each corner. Do not tape these slits up!

5. Cut two long pieces of string, and make a mark at each end. Find some thin cording, such as crochet string, thin yarn, or kite string. Cut two 30-inch (76-centimeter) pieces. Use a marker to make a dot on each string, 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) away from each end.

You will need two dots on each string, one fo each end. These will be your guides for the next step.

6. Tape the end of your first string to one of the taped corners. Take your first string, and place the end over one of the corners you taped up. Align the mark with the edge of the tablecloth, then place a strip of tape over it. You will have about ½ inch (1 centimeter) of string peeking out over the top of the tape.

Keep the tape horizontal; don't let it hang over the edge of the parachute.

7. Tape the end of the string down. Fold the loose end of the string over the tape, towards the edge of the tablecloth. Place another piece of tape over it to secure it.

8. Tape the other end of the string to the next corner. Use the same technique as before. When you are done, tape the other string in the same way. When you are done, you'll have two loops hanging from your parachute.

9. Tie a knot into the middle of each loop. Hook your finger through the first loop and tug it away from the parachute to find the middle. Tie a knot in the loop right above your finger. The loop should have equal amounts of string on both sides of the knot.

Repeat this step for the other loop.

Leave some space between the knot and the middle of the string. You want to be able to feed elastic through it.

10. Slip the mini loops over the arms of an action figure. If the loops are too small, you can link mini rubber bands together to make a harness for the figure. You can also lay a strip of tape across the figure and the string to hold everything together.

Tips

Make sure that the parachute doesn't have any rips or tears in it.

Color or camouflage the parachute to match your cargo!

Experiment with dropping the parachute from different heights.

The higher you are when you drop, the better the parachute will work. Drop it slowly; don't throw it downward.

You can cut your parachute into other shapes, like octagons or pentagons, but you will need more strings (one for each corner).

If the parachute won't fall straight, poke a small hole in the middle. This will cause the air to pass through it rather than off to the side.

If the parachute fell too fast, the item was probably too heavy. Try using something smaller. If you can't find a smaller item, make a bigger parachute.

Warnings.

Always make sure that there isn't anyone standing in the landing zone underneath the parachute.

Things You'll Need.

Cheap, plastic tablecloth.

Measuring tape.

Marking pen.

String.

Tape.

Scissors.

Small toy.