Question

SA13. A basketball player throws a desperation shot at the buzzer from the backcourt 1.0 second before the game ended with the score tied. If the ball was released at a velocity of 12.0 m/s at an angle of 38O and if the release was made at the same level as the basket from a distance of 14.2 m, did he score? Why?

Answer 1

Explanations & Calculations

• If the ball took less time than 1 second to reach the basket, they would win.
• To calculate the time it takes until it reaches the basket, apply $\small s =ut$ to the horizontal motion of the trajectory.
• The horizontal component of the ball's velocity is $\small 12\cos38$.
• The time would be.

$\qquad\qquad \begin{aligned} \small 14.2\,m&=\small 12\cos 38\times t\\ \small t &=\small 1.5\,s \,\,(t>1s) \end{aligned}$

• Therefore, the game may have ended tied.