Answer :
Answer:
When an air hockey table is turned on, it creates an air cushion that lifts the puck off the surface, allowing it to glide smoothly with minimal friction. However, when the air cushion is turned off, the forces acting on the puck change, and this can be explained using the principles of physics.
Here's what happens to the puck when the air cushion is turned off:
1. Gravitational force:
- When the air cushion is turned off, the puck is no longer being lifted by the air pressure, and it is now subject to the force of gravity.
- The force of gravity pulls the puck downwards, causing it to fall towards the surface of the table.
2. Normal force:
- As the puck falls towards the table surface, it encounters a normal force, which is the force exerted by the table surface on the puck.
- The normal force acts perpendicular to the surface of the table and counteracts the force of gravity, preventing the puck from penetrating the table.
3. Friction force:
- Without the air cushion, the puck is now in direct contact with the table surface, and it experiences a frictional force.
- The frictional force acts in the opposite direction to the puck's motion, slowing it down and causing it to eventually come to a stop.
The combination of these forces (gravity, normal force, and friction) determines the behavior of the puck when the air cushion is turned off. The puck will fall towards the table surface, and its motion will be slowed down by the frictional force, eventually causing it to come to a stop.
The specific behavior of the puck will depend on factors such as the surface material of the table, the weight and shape of the puck, and the speed at which the puck was moving before the air cushion was turned off.
