A projectile is any object that is launched or thrown so that, after the initial push, it moves mainly under the influence of gravity (and sometimes air resistance).

Simple definition

  • In physics, a projectile is an object that, once thrown or launched, continues moving because of its own inertia and is pulled downward only by gravity (ignoring air resistance in basic problems).
  • In everyday language, it often means something shot or thrown as a weapon, like a bullet, rocket, or rock.

Everyday examples

  • Sports: a kicked football, a thrown baseball, or a basketball in a jump shot are all projectiles while they fly through the air.
  • Weapons: bullets from firearms, cannonballs, arrows, and unguided rockets are classic examples of projectiles.
  • Simple actions: even a stone you toss in a pond becomes a projectile while it arcs through the air.

How a projectile moves

  • Horizontally, a projectile tends to keep a constant speed because no significant horizontal force is acting on it in basic physics models.
  • Vertically, gravity constantly pulls it downward, causing a curved, usually parabolic path like the arc you see when you throw a ball.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.