Final answer:
The ball thrown upwards is not in a traditional free fall as it rises because it still has upward velocity. Gravity acts on it during the entire motion, including the ascent, which eventually slows to a peak before descending.
Step-by-step explanation:
In response to whether a ball rising towards its peak is in free fall, the answer is b. false. When a ball is thrown upwards, gravity is acting on it, slowing down its ascent until it reaches its peak—where its velocity is momentarily zero—before it starts to fall. However, the term 'free fall' typically refers to the motion of an object falling only under the influence of gravity, without any propulsion, and when no other forces (like air resistance) are acting on it aside from gravity. In this case, while gravity is the only significant force, the ball's motion includes both the upwards ascent while slowing down and the subsequent descent, with gravity acting to accelerate it downwards throughout the entire motion.