Final answer:
The negative final velocity at t = 1.5 s indicates the ball is moving downward, confirming the statement as true. Standard physics notation supports this conclusion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's understanding of the negative final velocity is correct. When analyzing motion, a negative velocity value indicates the direction of motion. In the context of standard physics notation, if we define upward as the positive direction, then a negative final velocity would mean that the object is moving downward. Given the information that at t = 1.5 s the final velocity is negative, the ball is indeed moving downward at this point in time. This conclusion is supported by the additional context provided where a negative velocity is observed in different scenarios consistent with a downward motion or a decrease in altitude.