How Does Table Inclination Affect Puck Movement in Air Hockey?

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The discussion centers on the effect of table inclination on puck movement in air hockey. A physics student observes that a puck, initially traveling at 3.80 m/s, drifts 2.44 cm to the right over a 1.67 m table, indicating the table is not level. The student attempts to calculate the angle of inclination but initially arrives at an incorrect value of 1 degree. The conversation suggests using a free-body diagram to analyze the forces acting on the puck and emphasizes the need to calculate the time taken for the puck's journey. Understanding the relationship between the angle of inclination and the puck's drift is crucial for accurate calculations.
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Inclination of a Table-PLEASE HELP

A physics student playing with an air hockey table (a frictionless surface) finds that if she gives the puck a velocity of 3.80 m/s along the length ( 1.67 m ) of the table at one end, by the time it has reached the other end the puck has drifted a distance 2.44 cm to the right but still has a velocity component along the length of 3.80m/s . She concludes correctly that the table is not level and correctly calculates its inclination from the above information.

I converted the 2.44 cm to meters, which would then be .0244 m. And then I'm not sure what do after that. I attempted to find the angle with the 1.67 m being the hypotonese and the .0244 to be the adjacent. This however gave the answer to be 1 degrees. Which is incorrect. I don't really know where to begin?

g is given as 9.8 m/s^2
 
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Draw a freebody diagram of the puck... what are the forces acting on it? What is the force acting along the direction of displacement?

First how long does it take the puck to make the trip...

Suppose the table was inclined at an angle theta. How much would it drift in terms of theta. What is the force that is making it drift?
 

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