How does the vertical acceleration at point a compare to the vertical acceleration at point c?

Both accelerations are equal to free-fall acceleration.

Horizontal component

There are no forces in the horizontal direction, so there is no horizontal acceleration, i.e., a = 0 m/s². This means the horizontal velocity must be constant along the track.

Vertical component

There is naturally a constant vertical force acting down, so there is a constant vertical acceleration. The value of vertical acceleration is similar to gravity (g).

See the attachment for the motion diagram.

Therefore the vertical acceleration at point A and point B is the same as free-fall acceleration.

Keywords: the motion diagram, showing the trajectory, projectile motion, parabola, horizontal, vertical component, gravity, how does the vertical acceleration at point A, compare, point C, equal to free-fall acceleration

i think it’s a. this is because if they measured the mass of something with a mass of 150g, then their final answer would have to be approximately 150g. though all of their answers are almost 150, rosa and tran have the closest answers (or the exact answer) to the accurate one.

thermal energy is the answer