How does the initial vertical velocity (right after it starts moving) of a horizontally launched projectile compare with it's final vertical velocity (right before it hits the ground)? They are equal

The initial velocity is greater

The final velocity is greater

The final vertical velocity is greater than the initial vertical velocity

Explanation:

Horizontal Motion

When an object is thrown horizontally with a speed vox from a height h, it describes a curved path ruled by gravity.

The resultant motion is the composition of the vertical motion and the horizontal motion.

The speed in the horizontal direction is always constant:

vx=vox

The speed in the vertical direction starts from zero and gradually increases in time:

vy=g.t

When the object was just launched, t=0, and its vertical velocity is 0

After some time has passed, the object is about to hit the ground, and its vertical velocity is greater than zero, thus:

The final vertical velocity is greater than the initial vertical velocity

a straight line sloped