Many people are familiar with the fact that a rifle recoils when fired. this recoil is the result of action - reaction force pairs. a gunpowder explosion creates hot gases that expand outward allowing the rifle to push forward on the bullet. consistent with newton's third law of motion, the bullet pushes backwards upon the rifle. the acceleration of the recoiling rifle a) greater than the acceleration of the bullet. b) two times greater than the acceleration of the bullet. c) the same size as the acceleration of the bullet. d) smaller than the acceleration of the bullet.