Projectile Motion in Freethrows
A basketball is a projectile when it is shot. The projectile motion causes the ball to swish through the basket even though you are shooting forward and upwards.
If we lived in zero gravity, the projectile motion would not be the same and the ball would continue to go at a constant speed and straight line upwards forever. We know this because of Newtons 1st law. Therefore playing basketball in space would be pointless and near impossible, because there is no gravity and air friction so the ball would continue to go up after you release it.
If we lived in zero gravity, the projectile motion would not be the same and the ball would continue to go at a constant speed and straight line upwards forever. We know this because of Newtons 1st law. Therefore playing basketball in space would be pointless and near impossible, because there is no gravity and air friction so the ball would continue to go up after you release it.
The closer you are to the basket, the less horizontal distance that the ball needs to cover to make a basket. Therefore, you don't need to push the ball out as much as up. Since a free throw is further from the basket, you will need to push the ball out further out then you do up. A layup, which would need more vertical force than horizontal would be different than a free throw. The best players are best able to calculate the horizontal and vertical force needed to make the shot.