Will the player score

Question

a hockey player takes a shot at a distance of 20ft away from a 5 ft goal. If the puck travels at a15 degree angle of elevation toward to the center of the goal, will the player score

Answer 1

The puck's height, h, when it reaches the goal is given by:

 

tan(15^o) = h/20

 

20*tan(15^o) = h

 

If h < 5 feet, the puck will go into the net (at h = 5 ft, it will hit the post).  This assumes no drop due to gravity.  To factor in gravity, we'd need to know the puck's initial velocity.