Final answer:
World War I featured the introduction of new weapons like machine guns, tanks, long-range artillery, airplanes, and poison gas, which led to greatly increased efficiency and lethality in combat, evidenced by high casualties and prolonged trench warfare.
Step-by-step explanation:
During World War I, several new types of weapons were introduced, profoundly changing the nature of combat. These included machine guns, tanks, long-range artillery, airplanes, and poison gas. The effect of these weapons on combat was b. Increased efficiency and lethality. The introduction of the machine gun alone, capable of firing hundreds of rounds per minute, meant that infantry assaults across open ground often resulted in massive casualties. Tanks were introduced by the British to break the deadlock of trench warfare, while airplanes added a new dimension to scouting and battleground strategy. Poison gas, first deployed by the Germans, introduced a terrifying new chemical warfare component.
The vast increase in firepower and new combat tactics necessitated by these weapons turned warfare into prolonged trench conflicts. This resulted in enormous loss of life and minimal territorial gains. By the end of the conflict, more than ten million military deaths and substantial civilian casualties marked the brutal efficiency of these new weapons in total war scenarios.