In free fall, the parachute takes the shape of an upside-down bell, slowing the descent of the weight attached to its centre. (IMAGE)

Polytechnique Montréal

In free fall, the parachute takes the shape of an upside-down bell, slowing the descent of the weight attached to its centre.

Caption

Once deployed, the plastic or paper sheet, cut using a kirigami pattern, opens into an inverted bell shape, acting as a parachute when the cargo is attached at its center.

Credit

(Photo credit: David Mélançon)

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CC BY-NC-ND

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