You indicated that the direction of the acceleration at point D is the same as the direction of the velocity.� When the angle between the velocity and acceleration is 0�, then the ball speeds up while moving in a straight line.� Is the ball speeding up when it is at point D?� Is the ball moving in a straight line when it is at point D?
In addition, remember that at point D the ball is flying through a vacuum.� Hence, the acceleration of the ball at point D is the freefall acceleration (i.e., the acceleration of gravity).� In what direction is the freefall acceleration?