Final answer:
A soccer ball kicked from the ground with an initial speed follows a parabolic trajectory due to gravity pulling it downward as it moves forward, combining forward velocity and downward acceleration to create a curved path.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a soccer ball is kicked from the ground with an initial speed v, the trajectory of the ball will be a parabolic curve. This is due to the influence of gravity acting on the ball, pulling it downwards as it moves forward. The combination of the forward velocity and the downward acceleration from gravity results in a curved path. The parabolic motion is characteristic of projectiles under the influence of gravity in the absence of air resistance. For example, if a ball is kicked with an initial velocity of 16 m/s in the horizontal direction and 12 m/s in the vertical direction, the ball follows this parabolic trajectory, and its kinetic energy and gravitational potential energy change in accordance with the laws of physics.