Here's why:
* Gravity is the only force acting on the object: Once an object is launched, the only force acting on it is gravity. Air resistance is usually ignored in basic projectile motion problems.
* Gravity acts downwards: Gravity always pulls objects towards the center of the Earth, which is downwards.
* Velocity at the top is horizontal: At the very top of its path, the object's vertical velocity momentarily becomes zero. However, gravity continues to act on the object, causing it to accelerate downwards.
Important Note: While the vertical velocity is zero at the top, the object still has a horizontal velocity. This is why it continues to move forward even though its upward motion has stopped.