Kinetic Energy on the ice –

- When a player uses the force explained on the page about forces, he/she can attain kinetic energy. Kinetic energy is defined by . Where ‘M’ is the mass or weight of the object, and ‘V’ is the velocity of that particular object. On average the professional hockey player weighs 200 pounds. This weight includes the force of gravity already so we don’t take that into consideration. The average hockey player can reach speeds up to twenty miles per hour. That number is about thirty feet per second. Moving through the calculations we find that the energy is roughly 5 kilojoules. The exciting part is we get to see this energy transfer when two people collide. To see that now click here, otherwise continue reading. Assuming the surface is frictionless, one player moving at this constant pace could be used to power a 100 watt light bulb for approximately 5 hours.

- The puck also has kinetic energy. A lot less than a human because it’s mass is nowhere near as big. However the puck travels a lot faster; 80 miles an hour faster. A professional hockey player can shoot a hockey puck up to 100 miles an hour. The kinetic energy of the puck being shot is only about .86 kilojoules. This can only power a light bulb for approximately 50 minutes.

Notice how Scotty Gomez, an Alaskan native, has his knees bent and lowers his center of gravity. This allows him to push off the ice with more force and propelling him even farther forward. It also makes him more stable. If he were standing strait up his legs wouldn’t act like much of a spring.