MEAM 22 Modelling and Simulation How does a parachute deployment drastically change a falling human’s dynamics, and how can this life-critical transition be modeled and simulated using MATLAB/Simulink?

The motion is governed by gravity and quadratic air drag:.......

Before deployment, the area (A=A_S) is small, so drag is low and velocity increases until terminal velocity where drag equals weight:

At height (h_1), the parachute opens and area switches to (A_O). Drag rises sharply, causing rapid deceleration and a new, much lower terminal velocity. The height–time curve shows fast descent first, then a clear slope change after deployment; the velocity–time curve shows a high constant speed followed by a sudden drop and stabilization at a safer speed.