Final answer:
The ball thrown vertically upward at 96 ft/s will follow a predictable trajectory under the influence of gravity, with its motion described by kinematic equations of physics.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a ball is thrown vertically upward with a velocity of 96 ft/s, then its trajectory, time to reach the maximum height, peak height, and velocity at various points during its ascent and descent can be predicted using the principles of physics.
Specifically, we can use the kinematic equations for projectile motion in the absence of air resistance to calculate these values. The ball's initial kinetic energy will be converted into potential energy as it climbs, and as it stops momentarily at the peak, the velocity will be zero before it starts to descend back down, accelerating due to gravity.