In this project, I will be talking about the physics behind shooting a hockey puck, including mass, weight, strength, speed and flex. There are three main methods for shooting a puck: snap shot, wrist shot, and slap shot and these are all effective, depending on when and where they are used in the game. .
Materials.
The hockey stick is made out of many materials; here are some of the materials advantages and disadvantages:.
Wooden Stick.
Wood was the first material ever used for hockey sticks; Wooden sticks were originally carved from iron wood which was known for its strength. Some other wooden sticks were usually made by laminating multiple types of wood into plywood, and then they would coat the stick with fibreglass. The usually laminate the stick with fiberglass.
Advantages; low cost, a strong base .
Disadvantages: poor durability, warp and change the flex and stiffness of the stick over time.
Aluminum Stick.
Aluminum sticks were the first non-wooden sticks. The shaft of the stick was aluminum alloy and the wooden blade was put in separately.
Advantages.
Durability.
Hard to be damaged.
Blade can be easily replaced.
Can not warp like wooden sticks.
Disadvantages.
Heavy.
Hard "feel"" due to the firmness of the aluminum.
Joining of the shaft to the blade.
Carbon Fibre.
The most common hockey stick used now is made from Graphite. (carbon fibre). They were originally sold as the shaft of the hockey stick without the blade but one piece sticks have become popular and the most common now.
The carbon fibre stick has become the best of both worlds in the hockey world. It combines the features of the wooden stick and aluminum ones. It has the classic feel of a wooden stick and the consistency and precision of the aluminum stick. Due to the materials light weight the feel of the carbon fibre stick is comfortable and can be manufactured with different flex patterns, which helps the accuracy and power of the wrist shot.
