Basketball: make the shot
A ball flies along a parabola toward the hoop. Tune the speed and angle; the sensor under the basket turns green on a score.
2D
Age 9+15 min
Projectile motionGravityLogic & robots
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Press “Run”. Bodies move by the laws of physics: gravity, friction, elasticity.
What the experiment shows
A throw follows a parabola. To drop through the hoop the ball must already be falling when it arrives — that is why players throw with an arc.
How to run it
- Press “Run”: the ball leaves a trail.
- Select the ball and reduce vx — miss or score?
- Find another angle that also scores.
Questions to discuss
- Why does a flat shot bounce off the rim?
- What is the backboard for?
The science
Without air drag the ball moves along a parabola: steadily sideways and with acceleration g vertically. Many parabolas pass through the same point, so you can score with different angles and speeds.
Try it at home
Throw paper balls into a bin from different distances: notice which arc scores most often.
What to change in the editor
- Make the ball bouncier.
- Move the hoop higher.