1. Is moving under the influence of gravity alone. This means there are no other forces acting on it, like thrust or air resistance (we'll talk about that in a bit).

2. Has an initial velocity that is not perfectly vertical. This initial velocity gives the object its horizontal motion.

3. Follows a curved path. This path is typically a parabola, shaped by the constant downward pull of gravity.

Important Note: In reality, air resistance often plays a significant role. This can make the path deviate from a perfect parabola. However, the basic principles of projectile motion still apply, and we often ignore air resistance in simplified calculations.