Sliding on Ice: The Case of Two Hockey Pucks

The concept of friction is essential to all skating on ice, whether it is for hockey, speed, or figure skating. Ice provides a reduced-friction surface, which allows humans to glide, rather than stick to the floor. Synthetic ice, consisting of slippery plastic, also reduces friction. The friction of synthetic ice can be lowered further by applying soapwater, or other slippery liquids.

For gliding motion to occur, two types of friction must be overcome: initial non-moving (static) friction, and moving (kinetic) friction.

The following graphs, excerpted from Volume 1 of The Science of Hockey, show the effect of force on motion of an official hockey puck.

Discussion Questions

1. Describe the magnitude of each force in Graph 1. For what amount of time is each force applied?
2. Describe the motion of the puck in Graph 2, using words.
3. How far does the puck travel? In what direction?
4. Are the graphs coordinated in the time dimension?

The following graphs, excerpted from Volume 1 of The Science of Hockey, compare the force required to move two types of pucks on synthetic ice (HDPE plastic).

Discussion Questions

1. Is the total force different in these two graphs? If so, why?
2. Is the initial force different in these two graphs? If so, why?
3. What is the average force is applied to each puck?
4. Calculate the work involved for each puck.
5. Why does the practice hockey puck perform differently on synthetic ice than an official puck? (Hint: The practice hockey puck is normally used on concrete floors.)

Additional free graphs on the science of ice skating are available in a free pamphlet from the publisher's webpage. 

The following books from Schottenbauer Publishing contain similar types of graphs and data pertaining to the science of ice skating, figure skating, and hockey:

Graphs & Data for Science Lab: Multi-Volume Series

• The Science of Ice Skating 
• Volume 1: Translational Motion
• Volume 2: Rotational Motion (Curves)
• Volume 3: Rotational Motion (Spins)
• Volume 4: Jumps
• Volume 5: Ice Hockey
• Volume 6: Biophysics
• Volume 7: Video Analysis
• Volume 8: Reference Manual
• The Science of Hockey
• Volume 1: Force, Acceleration, & Video Analysis of Pucks & Balls
• Volume 2: Force & Acceleration of Sticks, plus Biophysics
• Volume 3: Video Analysis of Ice, Field, & Street Hockey Sticks

Anthologies of 28 Graphs

• The Science of Figure Skating
• The Science of Ice Hockey
• The Science of Winter Olympic Sports

In addition, the following books are suitable for younger children learning geometry:

Geometry Workbooks

• The Geometry of Figure Skating
• The Geometry of Winter Olympic Sports 

Additional Information

Schottenbauer Publishing

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