I imagine different sheets, the weight on them, the weather conditions, and goodness knows how many other variables would affect this. All I want to know is if you really could do it or if it is just a cool idea like Mary Poppins' umbrella. If you stood at a height of x meters or miles or whatever, could a sheet save you from plummiting to a rather nasty death, or is the only parachute a real parachute?
2006-07-22 06:33:35 · 22 answers · asked by Frankie 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Assuming you're talking about a human body...the area of the sheet will help resist the air and slow your fall...but without a specifically designed sheet. it won't trap ENOUGH air to make enough of a difference to your legs...which will break. Of course in an updraft, or if you're very very light...you might only sprain things. It's mostly a weight ratio and dimention design problem. If the weight is low enough and the sheet well enough crafted to the specific characteristics of an airfoil (also considering materials)...it'd work ok. If you want...try it with different cloth material and small weights (like the metal nuts in the garage at first) tied to several lines of string. Wrap 'em up in themselves and chuck 'em off a roof, or multi-story building (with permission) and see what happens!
2006-07-22 06:42:58 · answer #1 · answered by D 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Yes, you can use a sheet as a parachute but you have to attach cords to the corners, length about twice the long side of the sheet, and make a small hole in the centre - about head size! - to give some stability. A double bed sheet and a baby bouncer harness will slow the average two year old to a survivable speed, but in the event of a fifth floor fire the time to construct might be unavailable. Personally, I always stay with the aircraft. It is worth noting that a porous fabric or mesh will give very good results, but totally impervious fabrics require several shaped apertures for best results. Your bog standard bedsheet works best if four limbs are available, so jump with a friend! :-)
2006-07-22 08:35:27 · answer #2 · answered by kenthopvine 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The reason parachutes work is because absolutely no air passes through the cloth. I wouldn't even try it with my 1000 thread count sheets!
Oh, and if you've ever been in a nasty windstorm you'd know Mary Poppins must've had a magic umbrella simply because it didn't turn inside out.
2006-07-22 06:38:15 · answer #3 · answered by Molly 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All a parachute is is a sheet of silk or nylon. If you can make sure the sheet will not rip and will stay in the right shape, then yes it will act as a parachute. However, it is more likely that somehow the sheet will lose the right shape and start flapping as you plummet to the ground.
2006-07-22 09:18:25 · answer #4 · answered by quntmphys238 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't wish to be the person trying it.
Although no scientist, I wouls imagine You need a combination of lightness of weight, a material that will not let air through, a harness that would keep the 'parachute in a stable upright position and suffient diameter to hold the weight of 'the' volunteer.
Try it first with a stone suspended from a handkerchief out of the bedroom window .
2006-07-22 06:43:37 · answer #5 · answered by Tony H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I doubt it. It isn't just the material a parachute is made of that's different, it's the way it's put together to ensure it opens up into a big wide dome with you suspended by ropes. A sheet with you hanging on to it would probably just crumple, and you would plummet to an untimely death.
2006-07-22 06:41:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Seen this one tried on mythbusters. correct answer is no
since a sheet is flat it has no real way of catching wind in order to slow your descent a parachute is bulged and does a much better job at it . If you tried it chances are you would hit the ground so hard you would crush your spinal collom.
2006-07-22 06:47:22 · answer #7 · answered by peter gunn 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh, sure. This is exactly why we have the Darwin awards each year. Before you try out this parachute, you'd best look up this year's nominees. You'll want to see where you stand in the running.
2006-07-22 06:39:34 · answer #8 · answered by The Stranger 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO!!! You should use a very reliable parachute which is built
for the purpose of gliding thru the air from plane to ground.
2006-07-22 06:46:45 · answer #9 · answered by Vagabond5879 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think this would be the smartest idea. I would rather just take a regular parachute, actually I don't think I need any parachute.
2006-07-22 06:36:32 · answer #10 · answered by Pulaski8229 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋