Projectile motion can be broken down into its horizontal and vertical components. The horizontal component of a projectile's motion remains constant throughout its trajectory, while the vertical component is affected by the force of gravity. Understanding these components is essential in analyzing the motion of a projectile.

To better comprehend this concept, let's consider the example of a ball thrown horizontally. Initially, the ball has an initial velocity only in the horizontal direction, and there is no initial vertical velocity. As the ball travels, gravity acts solely in the vertical direction, causing it to accelerate downwards. However, since there is no initial vertical velocity, the ball follows a curved path known as a parabola.

When a projectile is launched at an angle, its initial velocity can be split into horizontal and vertical components. The horizontal component remains constant, while the vertical component changes over time due to the effects of gravity. The interaction between these components determines the trajectory of the projectile.