Question

A person throws a 2.5 lb stone into the air with an initial upward speed of 15 ft/s. Make a free-body diagram for this stone (a) after it is free from the person's hand and is traveling upward, (b) at its highest point, (c) when it is traveling downward, and (d) while it is being thrown upward, but is still in contact with the person's hand

Answer 1

Answer: In cases a, b, and c, the only force acting on the stone is the force of gravity, mg, straight downward. In case d, the force of gravity also acts straight downward, however, there is an applied force with greater magnitude acting upward.

Note that this explanation assumes that drag (air resistance) is negligible.