How is basketball related to science?

The movements of the ball in a game of basketball are related to science, as theories of projective motion and gravity explain its movements. Also, the way a ball reacts to a player pushing it depends on properties of energy and momentum.

When a ball bounces, potential energy converts to kinetic energy and then back to potential energy. However, when coming back up after the bounce, the law of conservation of energy means the ball loses energy, causing it not to bounce back as high as it started. As a player pushes a ball back down again, energy is restored to the ball. When a ball is thrown, it is possible to calculate its trajectory using projective motion calculations.