J4 Parachute Inquiry

J4 students recently completed their Parachute Inquiry to investigate the effects of gravity and air resistance on falling objects. Students explored real world applications for parachutes, including delivering humanitarian aid. Students discussed the Christmas Drop, a project in the Pacific islands run by the US Department of Defense, and they also looked at the story and example of the Candy Bomber, aka Uncle Wiggly Wings, an American aviator who delivered candy by parachute to the children of Berlin during the Berlin airlift after World War II. Students were tasked with engineering a parachute to deliver candy to a friend.