Force Makes Things Move!
When you throw a ball, you are applying FORCE to it. Force is a push or pull that makes things move, stop, speed up, slow down, or change direction.
The MORE force you use, the FASTER and FARTHER the ball goes. That is why a grown-up can throw farther than a kid — bigger muscles generate more force!
But force is not the only thing that matters. The ANGLE you throw at makes a huge difference too. If you throw straight up, the ball goes high but not far. If you throw straight forward, it hits the ground quickly. The BEST angle for maximum distance is about 45 degrees — halfway between straight up and straight forward.
That is why quarterbacks do not throw the football straight — they launch it at an angle so it travels in an arc (called a parabola) and covers the most distance.