Theater Open Today: 10:15 AM - 4:15 PM

Science and Slapshots

T-town, are you ready? It's time to test your skills and soak up the science of ice hockey because the new exhibition HOCKEY: Faster Than Ever skates into Imagination Station on January 31.

This immersive exhibition puts you right in the action. It takes you on an exciting journey through the evolution of ice hockey, highlighting the remarkable technical advancements and scientific breakthroughs that have shaped the sport over time. This incredible game will inspire you with ingenuity and creativity as you explore the history, culture, and fusion of science and sport.

Join us when Hockey: Faster Than Ever opens, and learn how science is behind every thrilling moment on the ice!

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STEAM, Sticks, Skate and More

Can you stop a puck going 120 mph? What makes ice slippery? And where does friction come in? HOCKEY: Faster Than Ever invites you to see how innovation, science, and technology have transformed the sport throughout history as you test your skills like a true hockey player.
  • How many lights can you hit in 60 seconds in "Don't Blink" 
  • Channel your inner star player in the “Science Lab” section, where fun challenges vividly demonstrate scientific concepts in a replica rink
  • Unleash your slapshot speed in "Need for Speed" and see who has the fastest shot 
  • Test your precision with a puck in "Score Like a Pro.
  • Explore the evolution of skates and gear from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Behind the Boards: The Science of Ice Hockey

There are seconds on the clock and a fraction of a chance to score a goal. While the crowd cheers, claps, and stomps, the players know what is behind their winning goal: science. In fact, Newton's laws of motion govern the dynamics of ice hockey. 
  • First Law, Inertia: A player at rest will remain at rest until acted upon by an outside force (like another player). A moving player will remain in motion until they're forced to change by an external force (sounds like checking!)
  • Second Law, F=ma: When players swing their sticks and strike the puck, they're applying a force that causes the puck to accelerate toward the goal. Newton’s Second Law of Motion, F=ma (Force= Mass x Acceleration) determines how fast the puck accelerates. The harder the player hits the puck, the faster it moves.
  • Third Law, Action & Reaction: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. When a player is checked and hits the boards, the boards push back with an equal and opposite force. 
And that only covers the first period of the game!
Learn how science and power plays made ice hockey the exhilarating game it is when HOCKEY: Faster Than Ever opens on January 31 at Imagination Station. The exhibition runs through April 27. 

HOCKEY: Faster Than Ever is a traveling exhibition produced and toured internationally by Flying Fish in collaboration with the Montréal Science Centre and supported by the © NHL and the © NHLPA.

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Exhibition supported by: