Final answer:
Professional basketball players improve shooting accuracy through practice and understanding projectile motion, applying physics to calculate the optimal release angle and velocity for successful shots such as free throws.
Step-by-step explanation:
Projectile motion in basketball shooting. Professional basketball players can improve their shooting accuracy by practicing the physics behind projectile motion. When shooting a free throw, for example, players must consider the release angle and initial velocity of the ball. Since the free throw line is 4.57 m from the basket and the basket is 3.05 m above the floor, and considering the player releases the ball at a height of 2.44 m, the angle of release will affect whether the ball goes in.
Most players prefer a high-arched shot, using a greater initial angle, because it gives a larger margin for error. The steps involved in solving this type of projectile motion problem include calculating the time of flight, horizontal range, and vertical displacement to find the required angle of release for the shot to be successful.In solving these problems, players implicitly use the principles of physics to optimize their shots during the game. This knowledge, combined with muscle memory from repetitive practice, can significantly increase shooting accuracy.