Final answer:
The top of a basketball backboard is 4 inches above the rim. The actual physics inquiry pertains to the angle needed to make a free throw, factoring in the distance to the basket and the height from which the ball is released. The player's throw will need to compensate for both horizontal and vertical displacement with the correct launch angle.
Step-by-step explanation:
The top of the backboard in basketball is typically 4 inches (approximately 10 cm) above the rim. However, the question seems to be tangential to the actual query involving projectile motion. To address the physics problem, we need to calculate the launch angle required for a basketball free throw. Since the basket is 3.05 m above the floor and the free throw line is 4.57 m away, the thrower must angle their shot to cover both the horizontal distance and the height difference when throwing the ball. Assuming the release height is 2.44 m, the vertical distance the ball must rise is 0.61 m (3.05 - 2.44). Using kinematic equations, physics principles such as the conservation of energy, and trajectory calculations, one can solve for the angle of the launch that would account for the gravitational pull and required projectile motion to land the ball into the basket. For most players, a higher launch angle is preferred because it gives a better margin for error - the ball can still enter the basket even if the speed or angle is slightly off.