A player kicks a soccer ball in a high arc toward the opponent's goal. when the soccer ball reaches its maximum height, how does its speed at this point compare to its initial speed? assume air resistance is negligible.

For the answer to the question above, The initial velocity has both a horizontal and vertical component. At its maximum height, the vertical component becomes 0 and the speed consists of only the horizontal component, so the speed is at its minimum (less than initial speed).