Air Hockey Lab Questions
1.
Push the air hockey puck and release it. What happens to the puck AFTER you release it? What law of motion does this relate to? Explain.
2.
Push the air hockey puck with a small amount of force and make observations about the puck’s acceleration. Push the air hockey puck with a medium amount of force and make observations about the puck’s acceleration. Push the air hockey puck with a large amount of force and make observations about the puck’s acceleration. How does the applied force relate to the direction and magnitude of the puck’s acceleration? What law of motion does this relate to? Explain.
3.
Can you push the puck with an EXTREMELY LARGE amount of force? Why or why not? What law of motion does this relate to?
4.
What outside unbalanced force usually acts upon objects in motion to bring them to a stop?
How does the air hockey puck lessen this force? Draw a free body diagram of the puck in motion.
5.
If the air hockey puck is in motion (as depicted in diagram A below) and a small force is applied perpendicular to the motion of the puck (as depicted in diagram B below), what direction will the puck travel?
A B