Frictional Force in Hockey: The Puck Stops Here
After learning about the concept of transfer of energy, specifically the loss of kinetic energy to friction, students get a chance to test friction. Student groups are each given a wooden block and different fabrics and weights and challenged to design the "best" puck. First the class defines what makes the "best" puck. They come to realize that the most desirable puck is the one that travels the farthest, thus the puck with the least amount of friction. In the context of hockey, the "best" puck is the one that travels farthest and loses the least kinetic energy to friction. Students then apply their knowledge of friction—the energy transfer from kinetic to heat energy—to design new, optimal pucks for the National Hockey League.
Students examine the loss of kinetic energy to friction in hockey pucksCopyright http://cdn.foodbeast.com.s3.amazonaws.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/hockey-puck.jpg
Engineers design the optimal equipment for all sorts of sports. Students act as engineers working for the NHL to design new hockey pucks. This problem can be solved with their knowledge of friction and understanding of the problem at hand. Like mechanical and materials engineers, groups must analyze their resources to design the optimal design challenge solution.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Identify the frictional force and how it acts to slow an object in motion.
- Explain the conservation of energy both when friction is present and when it is limited by the hover pucks.
- Explain the concept of inertia and how it relates to a puck sliding on the floor.
- Explain that friction slows down motion, because of the transfer of kinetic to heat energy.
- Explain why an engineer must understand friction when designing a hockey puck.