Saunders County Extension & 4-H and
the Nebraska Extension Mobile Science Lab
Present Halloween Science 2023
Spider Parachutes
Spiderlings of some spider species make parachutes out of their silk in order to disperse—a process called ballooning. In doing this, spiders have traveled from a few meters to hundreds of kilometers! Soon after hatching, the spiderlings stand on their tippy-toes and release a few strands of silk. These strands automatically form a triangular shaped parachute that catches the breeze and lifts them in the air!
YOUR MISSION: MAKE A SPIDERLING PARACHUTE THAT WILL CARRY YOUR SPIDER AS FAR AS POSSIBLE!
SUPPLIES:
-
Coffee filter
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String
- Tape (not included)
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Plastic spider
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Box fan (optional) (not included)
Create your parachute out of the coffee filter, cutting it into different shapes to experiment if desired. Attach your spider to the parachute from the strings then drop it to see if the parachute slows its descent. Once the parachute configuration is how you want it, use the box fan to blow the spiderling parachute. Try pointing the fan at different angles upwards from the horizontal to see what helps the spiderling go the farthest distance. Measure the distance of each trial and record your results!
Source: Vivify STEM
Find out more about spiders in Nebraska!
See a video of a spider parachute (Ballooning)
More Spider Information from GroBigRed!
Get more information about the Mobile Science Lab!
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More opportunitites - You don't need to be enrolled in 4-H to participate!
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