How are we able to calculate how far we’re able to throw things extremely precisely?

Question

For example, if you’re standing 20 feet away from me, and you tell me to throw you a ball, how is my arm able to generate almost the exact amount of power required to throw the ball 20 feet? How and where does this “calculation” happen?

In: Physics

Answer 1

Really, we’re not doing much calculating at all, it’s more estimating. Our brain draws from experience, if it applies x amount of force in angle y on an object, then said object covers a distance z. If it applies x-1, then that same object covers a distance of z-1.2. Therefore, to cover z+1.2, it needs to apply x+1.