How does inertia affect the motion of a hockey puck?

Answer 1

• If a puck is placed on the ice so that it isn't moving it will stay where it is placed. That's inertia.
• If a player whacks the puck straight for the net and no other player gets in the way then the puck will go into the net. The only thing that could slow the puck would be the tiny friction between the ice and the puck but that doesn't amount to much. The air turbulence around a puck must have a slight effect too. But the overall straight line trajectory of the puck is inertia too.

In ordinary life, things 'at rest stay at rest' and things that are moving move in straight lines unless additional forces act on those things.

Answer 2

The gliding hockey puck moves in a straight line with constant velocity unless acted upon by an outside force, like another hockey stick or the wall. (Newton's first law)

The acceleration of the hockey puck is directly proportional to the force acting on it, and inversely proportional to its mass. If you hit it harder, it will accelerate faster. How fast depends on its mass. (Newton's 2nd law)

When the hockey puck hits the wall or another player's hockey stick, it moves off in the opposite direction with a force equal to the force exerted by the wall or hockey stick. (Newton's third law)

Answer 3

Newton's First Law: The hockey puck glides in a straight line unless acted upon by an outside force, such as a hockey stick.

Newton's Second Law: The acceleration of the puck when hit by a hockey stick is directly proportional to the force, and inversely proportional to its mass. The harder the puck is hit, the faster its acceleration. a = F/m

Newton's Third Law: When the puck is hit by a hockey stick, it exerts an equal but opposite force on the hockey stick. If the hockey stick hits the puck to the right, the puck will push back against the hockey stick to the left.