Final answer:
The maximum height h that a puck will reach can be predicted using the equation h = ½ vt, where v is the initial vertical component of the velocity, t is the time taken to reach the maximum height, and g is the acceleration due to gravity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Predicting the Maximum Height of a Puck
To predict the maximum height h that a puck will reach based on its velocity, one can apply a fundamental principle of Physics. The maximum height a projectile reaches depends only on the vertical component of the initial velocity. Assuming the absence of air resistance, the equation h = ½ vt can be used, where v is the initial vertical velocity, t is the time taken to reach the maximum height, and g is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s² on Earth's surface). Since the vertical acceleration is negative due to gravity, the vertical component of a projectile's velocity decreases until it reaches zero at the peak of its trajectory.
However, it should be noted that in a real-world scenario, factors such as air resistance might slightly alter the results. For a true experiment in a controlled environment where these factors can be negated, the initial velocity provided should be sufficient to calculate the maximum height reached by the hockey puck.
Additionally, the impact speed just before hitting the ground or any other object like a cliff will be the same as the initial velocity if air resistance is neglected and the puck's trajectory ends at the same elevation from which it was launched.