Here's why:
* Gravity acts continuously: Gravity pulls the object downwards throughout its flight. This downward pull causes the object's trajectory to curve.
* Horizontal motion remains constant: Ignoring air resistance, the object's horizontal velocity remains constant.
* Combined effect: The combination of constant horizontal motion and downward acceleration due to gravity results in the characteristic parabolic path of a projectile.
While other forces like air resistance might have a minor influence, gravity is the dominant force shaping the projectile's path.