Collisions
Collisions are an expected part of hockey, but how much energy is really contained in a check or a mid ice collision? If we take an average size player of around 205 pounds moving at about 23 miles per hour, he will carry approximately 4700 Joules of energy. So a collision between 2 players roughly this size would yield 9400 Joules of energy. Believe it or not that is enough energy to power a 100 watt light bulb for a minute and a half.
The Mathematical explanation for the paragraph at right.
To protect the players from the forces and energies in the collisions, players must wear protective gear ranging from knee pads to gloves to helmets. The purpose of the gear is to help disperse pinpoint forces, like an elbow or stick, while also dispersing the energy from colliding with players and walls. The helmet is one of the most important pieces of gear to protect the player in collisions. The helmet slows the deceleration of the head when it hits the wall or the ice. By slowing the deceleration of the head, it reduces the movement and pressure on the brain and helps to reduce the chance of a concussion.
