How does the force of gravity work when an object is on an inclined plane at an angle of theta with the horizontal?

When an object is on an inclined plane at an angle theta with the horizontal, the force of gravity can be broken down into two components: one parallel to the incline and one perpendicular to it. The component parallel to the incline affects the object's motion down the slope, while the perpendicular component does not contribute to the object's motion along the incline.