How do parachutes slow you down?
For grown-ups: the science
A parachute opens wide, so air pushes up on it and slows the fall.
A parachute increases surface area and therefore air resistance (drag). As drag rises, it reduces the person's downward acceleration and can lead to a much lower terminal velocity. The parachute does not stop gravity; it adds an upward force from the air.
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Transcript
A parachute opens high in the air. How can a big cloth umbrella help someone come down slowly?
When a parachute opens, it spreads into a wide, round shape. The big shape meets lots of air.
Air pushes against the open parachute as it moves downward. This upward push slows the fall.
The parachute keeps catching air while the person comes down. They drift gently toward the ground.
So that wide parachute lets air push upward. That makes the trip down much slower.