Final answer:
Gun sights adjust for gravitational pull, making a firearm accurate at a specified range. Calculating bullet drop at increased distances requires physics principles considering muzzle velocity and gravitational influence. A higher muzzle velocity reduces drop, while air resistance increases it.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a gun is sighted to hit a target at a specific range, gun sights are adjusted to compensate for the gravitational pull on the bullet. In the scenario where the gun is sighted for a 100.0 meter distance, we have to determine how far below the aim point the bullet would strike if it were aimed at a target 150.0 meters away with a muzzle velocity of 275 m/s. This requires understanding the bullet's trajectory, which follows a parabolic path due to gravity's influence.
To solve part (a) of the problem, we would need to calculate the time it takes for the bullet to reach the target at 100.0 m and then use this time to determine how much further the bullet would fall by the time it reaches 150.0 m. We can assume that horizontally, the bullet moves at a constant velocity because, in physics problems, horizontal motion is usually considered independent of vertical motion affected by gravity. Knowing the bullet's horizontal velocity allows us to calculate the time it takes to travel to both the 100.0 m and 150.0 m targets.
For part (b), increasing the muzzle velocity would likely reduce the time it takes for the bullet to reach the target, which means the bullet would have less time to be affected by gravity and thus would hit closer to the aim point. Conversely, air resistance is a factor that slows down the bullet's forward motion and causes additional downward force, resulting in the bullet striking lower than it would in a vacuum. The exact impact of air resistance would depend on the bullet's shape, velocity, and the conditions of the air (IG.e., density, temperature, etc.).
Overall, understanding these factors is essential for assessing how gun sights function and ensure accuracy over various distances while shooting a handgun.