Analyzing Forces on a Hockey Puck

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A hockey puck sliding on a smooth ice surface experiences several forces, primarily weight and normal force, due to gravity. Friction is generally considered negligible in this scenario, although some participants suggest a small opposing friction force should be included. The concept of "force of velocity" is clarified as incorrect, as velocity itself is not a force. The discussion concludes that the only significant forces acting on the puck are its weight and the net force, leading to the conclusion that the correct answer is AE. Understanding these forces is crucial for analyzing the puck's motion accurately.
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A hockey puck slides along a horizontal, smooth icy surface at a constant velocity as shown.

Draw a free-body diagram for the puck. Which of the following forces are acting on the puck?

1. weight
2. friction
3. force of velocity
4. force of push
5. normal force
6. air drag
7. acceleration


Combinations of answers that were wrong

ABCDEF
ABCE
ACE

I've been at this for awhile and can't picture what's going on. Any help or suggestions are appreciated. Thanks for your time.
 
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Which do you think are acting on the hockey puck? Never mind the answers that were rejected... what's your feeling as to the right answer?
 
sorry for posting in wrong section

Well...what i thought was

-a puck obviously has weight (1)
-since it's on ice, i think I'm supposed to assume there's no friction (2)
-it has some kind of velocity, so i believe there is a force of velocity (3)
-not sure about force of push...i think we're supposed to assume it's just moving on it's own (4)
-well since there's a weight, which probably means there's a down acceleration due to gravity, there's probably a normal force (5)
-air drag is probably negligible (6)
-not sure what kind of acceleration...since it's moving at a constant rate, i know there's no acceleration in that direction, but what about gravity? (7)
 
reignofdragons said:
sorry for posting in wrong section

Well...what i thought was

-a puck obviously has weight (1)

yup, 1) is definitely right.

-since it's on ice, i think I'm supposed to assume there's no friction (2)

I agree.

-it has some kind of velocity, so i believe there is a force of velocity (3)

But velocity isn't a force... there isn't anything I'm aware of such as a force of velocity...

-not sure about force of push...i think we're supposed to assume it's just moving on it's own (4)

yup... plus I don't think "force of push" is a real force of any kind... a force is a push or a pull... but a "force of push" sounds strange...


-well since there's a weight, which probably means there's a down acceleration due to gravity, there's probably a normal force (5)

Yes, there's definitely a normal force.

-air drag is probably negligible (6)

I'd say air drag is a force acting on the puck... might be negligible... but they haven't explicitly stated anything about it... so I'd say it is there...

-not sure what kind of acceleration...since it's moving at a constant rate, i know there's no acceleration in that direction, but what about gravity? (7)

Yes, there's no acceleration... the normal forces balances gravity... but more importantly acceleration isn't a force...
 
Even if the puck is on ice, I wouldn't automatically assume no friction. Otherwise hockey pucks could be tapped slightly and potentially go across entire arenas. I'd say include at least a small friction force opposing motion.
 
Help

There will be only Weight and Net Force acting on the puck. AE would be your answer.
 
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