Question

A gun is aimed horizontally at a target in line with the barrel. The target is released (and allowed to fall freely under gravity) at the very instant the gun is fired. The bullet will

• A. hit the target
• B. pass above the target
• C. pass the below the target
• D. certainly miss the target

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

hit the target

Since the same force of gravity acts on both, the acceleration of both objects will be same. Also, both objects have same initial velocity in the y-direction, i.e. 0 (because bullet is fired horizontally and target is dropped from rest). Thus they will cover the same distance in y-direction downwards in same time and hence the bullet will hit the target.