Parachute

A parachute is a soft fabric device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag. Parachutes are generally used to slow the descent of a person or object to Earth or another celestial body with an atmosphere. Parachutes are also sometimes used to aid horizontal deceleration of a vehicle (an airplane or space shuttle after touchdown, or a drag racer). The word parachute comes from the French words para, protect or shield, and chute, to fall. Therefore parachute actually means to protect from a fall. Many types of modern parachute are quite maneuverable, and can be flown like gliders.

Related Topics:
Drag - Celestial body - Atmosphere - Airplane - Space shuttle - Drag racer - Glider

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Parachutes were once made from silk but these days are almost always constructed from more durable woven nylon fabrics, sometimes coated with a zero porosity coating to improve performance and consistency over time.

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