A boy throws a steel ball straight up. Consider the motion of the ball only after it has left the boy's hand but before it touches the ground. Assume that forces exerted by the air are negligible. The forces acting on the ball are: A) A downward force of gravity along with a steadily decreasing upward force. B) A steadily decreasing upward force from the moment it leaves the boy's hand until it reaches its highest point; on the way down, there is a steadily increasing downward force of gravity as the ball gets closer to the earth. C) An almost constant downward force of gravity along with an upward force that steadily decreases until the ball reaches its highest point; on the way down, there is only a constant downward force of gravity. D) An almost constant downward force of gravity. E) None of the above. The ball falls back to the ground because of its natural tendency to rest on the surface of the earth