ABSTRACT
We all know that if we throw a rock up in the air, it must come down. We know that friction will eventually slow a rolling ball and bring it to a full stop. Toss a ball straight at a brick wall and it will bounce back. Throw the ball at an angle, and it will careen off the wall at an angle. To throw a football a long distance, we must increase the force and arc we put on the throw. Years of living in this world and obeying the laws of Newtonian physics have taught us this much. Exactly how much heft and spin to put on a basketball is a matter of intuition mixed with muscle memory and guesswork. Despite our familiarity with the basic laws of nature, we are often surprised by the results. I’ve been playing basketball for the better part of two decades and I’m still filled with a burst of joy every time I hit a three-point shot. Despite hours of practice, there’s some part of me that still can’t believe I can throw a large rubber ball 21 feet and into a hoop perched 10 feet in the air.
