Free Throw Shooter

This simulation treats a free throw as projectile motion. Dragging the ball back sets the launch angle and speed, an optional guide draws the predicted arc, and the ball follows a parabola to the rim 4.57 meters away and 3.05 meters high. Toggles add air drag, and a gravity slider lets students shoot on the Moon or a larger planet. Readouts show launch angle, launch speed, peak height, made and shots, and streak. Teachers can use it to compare flat fast shots with high arcs.

• Drag the ball back and sideways to set the dotted arc, then release and check the Launch angle readout.
• Try a low, fast shot and a high, slow shot, and compare the Peak height for each.
• Lower Gravity to 1.6 and shoot again to see how the arc stretches.
• Turn on Air drag and see how much power the same shot now needs.
• Turn off Aim guide and try to rebuild a streak from your own predictions.

1. 1Describe the arc of a thrown ball as a parabola.
2. 2Explain how launch angle and speed together decide where the ball lands.
3. 3Compare shots under different gravity values and predict the effect.
4. 4Use peak height and speed readouts to adjust a shot.

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