Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

I am making this project for my science fair. I wanted to make this project considering vertical motion in 2 dimensional (using projectile motion). I want to predict the best angle and how much force should be exerted on the ball while throwing also how the angle of projection and force varies from person to person depending on their heights.
Also how the probability of scoring increases if the ball is thrown while jumping.
Kindly help me with how to start the project.
Thank you


[Administrator note: Project referenced in title can be viewed here: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... g-a-basket]

Hi - if you want to do this project for vertical motion, then you need to include gravity, which means you need to understand the topic and equations of "projectile motion" in physics. We have a project about this for catapults, but the concept of the same regardless of what the "ball" or projectile is. The ball's trajectory in the vertical plane will be a parabola, not a straight line:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... ile-motion

The difference is that in this case you would need to calculate the second half of the ball's trajectory after it bounces off the backboard (when it reaches a certain x position), at which point its x velocity will become negative.