PHYSICS LAB
Electric Field Hockey
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PHYSICS DEPARTMENT
JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY
Revision November 1999
HOCKEY 11
HOCKEY 12
PHYSICS 135
LAB INSTRUCTIONS
ELECTRIC FIELD HOCKEY1
Purpose: To improve our understanding of electric forces and their influence on the motion of
charged objects.
Equipment: Electric Field Hockey program.
Background: Electric Field Hockey is a computer-simulated game that resembles hockey. A charged
puck slides about on a frictionless surface. The player tries to manipulate the puck into the net by
positioning charges at various locations on the playing field. The game is made challenging with the
placement of barriers on the playing surface. The player must get the puck to move around the barriers.
The easiest way to learn how the game is played is by trying. Start the game by clicking on the Electric
Field Hockey icon on the desktop. Step by step interactive instruction are provided when you click the
begin button on the opening screen or choose the Instructions from the Options menu at any point in
the program. Level 0 should be used to explore and acquaint yourself with the motion of the puck.
You may return to level 0 at any point if you would like to experiment.
Remember the game is designed to help students understand the electric force and how forces
influence motion. You should recognize the basic properties of the Coulomb force. Opposite charges
attract. Like charges repel. The force decreases with separation. The total force is the superposition
(vector sum) of all the forces. Vectors indicating the total force can be activated from the menu. In the
first semester we explored the influence of force on motion in one dimension (graphs and tracks).
Field hockey exposes the student to the more challenging problem of forces and motion in two
dimensions. To successfully complete all levels you will have to apply your knowledge so develop
your understanding as you progress.
To complete the lab each group must successfully score a goal at each of the nine levels of play.
Upon completing a level have your instructor initial or stamp the table provided on your data sheet.
Your grade will be based on the number of levels successfully completed.
K.L. Giovanetti Copyright: ΠJames Madison University
1
HOCKEY 13
DATA SHEET
Name____________________
LEVEL
INSTRUCTORS INITIALS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
HOCKEY 14