Question

A basketball player shoots a free throw at a 50 degree angle. Assume the ball is released at a height of 1.8 meters, the hoop is 3 meters off of the floor and 4.6 meters away from the shooter. With what velocity should the player release the ball to hit nothing but net?

Answer 1

let speed of release = x

horizontal speed =u = x cos 50
initial vertical speed Vi = x sin 50

4.6 = (x cos 50) t so t = 4.6/(x cos 50)

3 = 1.8 + (x sin 50) t - 4.9 t^2

1.2 = (x sin 50)(4.6/x cos 50) - 4.9 (4.6^2)/(x^2 cos^2 50)

1.2 = 4.6 tan 50 - 4.9 (4.6^2)/(x^2 cos^2 50)

Answer 2

10.58 m/s