C

Step 1: Understanding the situation: A bullet fired westward at the same velocity as the earth's equatorial rotation (460 m/s) means the bullet is essentially traveling at the speed of the Earth's surface at that point.
Step 2: Referring to the law of inertia from Newton's first law, an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.
Step 3: Without an atmosphere, there is no air resistance to slow the bullet down or alter its path.
Step 4: As the bullet is fired with the same horizontal speed as the surface of the earth, it will maintain this speed and follow the curvature of the Earth beneath it.
Step 5: Therefore, the bullet will not fall to the ground immediately; instead, it will continue to move with the surface of the Earth, appearing to travel in a straight line relative to the ground.
Conclusion: It would travel along a curved path, maintaining its altitude above the Earth as it moves westward.