The force of gravity is the same everywhere along the path of the ball. The speed and velocity will change at a rate of 9.8 m/s2. As an example, lets assume the initial velocity is 19.6 m/s. After two seconds, the velocity is 0 but the force of gravity is changing the velocity at a rate of 9.8 m/s2. A second later the ball is moving down at 9.8 m/s and a second after that it is moving at -19.6 m/s
We can even see this in the cow applet. I used an initial velocity of 19.6 m/s and an acceleration of -9.8 m/s2. Notice that the velocity was graphed at 0 after 2 seconds.
