---
title: "An experiment is performed on a puck on a level air-hockey table, where friction is negligible. A constant horizontal force is applied to the puck, and the puck’s acceleration is measured. Now the same puck is transported far into outer space, where both friction and gravity are negligible. The same constant force is applied to the puck (through a spring scale that stretches the same amount), and the puck’s acceleration (relative to the distant stars) is measured. What is the puck’s acceleration in outer space?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/90787/"
date_modified: "2026-08-18T02:39:57+00:00"
---

# An experiment is performed on a puck on a level air-hockey table, where friction is negligible. A constant horizontal force is applied to the puck, and the puck’s acceleration is measured. Now the same puck is transported far into outer space, where both friction and gravity are negligible. The same constant force is applied to the puck (through a spring scale that stretches the same amount), and the puck’s acceleration (relative to the distant stars) is measured. What is the puck’s acceleration in outer space?

An experiment is performed on a puck on a level air-hockey table, where friction is negligible. A constant horizontal force is applied to the puck, and the puck’s acceleration is measured. Now the same puck is transported far into outer space, where both friction and gravity are negligible. The same constant force is applied to the puck (through a spring scale that stretches the same amount), and the puck’s acceleration (relative to the distant stars) is measured. What is the puck’s acceleration in outer space?

- **A.** It is somewhat greater than its acceleration on the Earth.
- **B.** It is the same as its acceleration on the Earth.
- **C.** It is less than its acceleration on the Earth.
- **D.** It is infinite because neither friction nor gravity constrains it.
- **E.** It is very large because acceleration is inversely proportional to weight and the puck’s weight is very small but not zero.

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/90787/*