Basketball Toss

Using a springboard with a movable fulcrum students try to shoot a ball through a basket while measuring the height of the ball as the fulcrum position and size and the ball density are changed. Students will explore parabolic motion by sending a ball through the basketball hoop. With the fulcrum and springboard they determine the connection between independent (fulcrum height, ball density, location of fulcrum ) and dependent (ball height) variables. Use of a 30-60-90 fulcrum introduces geome