Projectile motion refers to the motion of an object that is thrown or projected into the air, influenced only by the force of gravity and air resistance. This type of motion follows a curved path known as a parabola, which is determined by the object's initial velocity, launch angle, and the acceleration due to gravity. In projectile motion, the horizontal and vertical movements are independent of each other. The horizontal motion occurs at a constant speed, while the vertical motion is affected by gravity, causing the object to accelerate downward. Understanding these principles helps in various fields, including sports, engineering, and physics.