Final answer:
When a rifle is aimed horizontally at a target, the bullet falls below the target due to gravity. A larger muzzle velocity would increase the range of the bullet, but it would still fall below the target. Air resistance would affect the bullet's trajectory and slow it down.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a rifle is aimed horizontally at a target, the bullet will fall below the target due to gravity. This is because gravity acts vertically downward, pulling the bullet toward the ground. As the bullet travels horizontally, it also falls vertically, resulting in a curved path known as projectile motion.
One way to visualize this is to imagine a cannonball being shot horizontally versus being dropped with no horizontal velocity. Both cannonballs will have the same vertical position over time. The bullet will follow a parabolic trajectory, hitting the ground lower than the target.
A larger muzzle velocity would affect this problem by increasing the speed and range of the bullet. However, gravity would still act on the bullet, causing it to fall below the target. The effect of air resistance would depend on the specific conditions, but generally, it would slow down the bullet and alter its trajectory slightly.