is the force that causes an object to have a curved path during projectile motion.

In projectile motion, the force that causes an object to follow a curved path is primarily the force of gravity. Here's a breakdown of the conditions and concepts involved: 1. **Gravity**: This is the force that acts downward on the object throughout its motion. It causes the object to accelerate towards the Earth at approximately \(9.81 \, \text{m/s}^2\). 2. **Initial Velocity**: When an object is projected, it has an initial velocity that can be broken down into horizontal and vertical components. The horizontal component remains constant (assuming no air resistance), while the vertical component is affected by gravity. 3. **Curved Path**: The combination of the constant horizontal motion and the downward acceleration due to gravity results in a parabolic trajectory. This is why the path of a projectile is curved. 4. **Other Forces**: While gravity is the primary force causing the curved path, other forces such as air resistance can also play a role, but they are often neglected in basic physics problems. In summary, the force that causes an object to have a curved path during projectile motion is the gravitational force acting on the object.