The picture below shows the Apollo spacecraft that took astronauts to the moon. The spacecraft weighed about 5 million pounds, with motors that produced 7 million pounds of thrust.
Which statement explains how the spacecraft left the surface of the earth? (1 point) Responses The spacecraft applied an upward force of thrust that was equal to the downward force of gravity. The spacecraft applied an upward force of thrust that was equal to the downward force of gravity. The spacecraft applied a downward force of thrust that was less than the downward force of gravity. The spacecraft applied a downward force of thrust that was less than the downward force of gravity. The spacecraft applied a downward force of thrust that was equal to the downward force of gravity. The spacecraft applied a downward force of thrust that was equal to the downward force of gravity. The spacecraft applied an upward force of thrust that was greater than the downward force of gravity.
The spacecraft applied an upward force of thrust that was greater than the downward force of gravity.
The statement that explains how the spacecraft left the surface of the earth is: The spacecraft applied an upward force of thrust that was greater than the downward force of gravity.
The statement that explains how the spacecraft left the surface of the earth is: "The spacecraft applied an upward force of thrust that was greater than the downward force of gravity."
To understand this, we need to consider Newton's third law of motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In this case, the action is the downward force of gravity pulling the spacecraft towards the earth, and the reaction is the upward force of thrust produced by the motors.
To lift off the surface of the earth, the spacecraft needs to generate enough upward thrust to overcome the downward force of gravity. Since the spacecraft weighed about 5 million pounds and the motors produced 7 million pounds of thrust, the upward force of thrust is greater than the downward force of gravity. This allows the spacecraft to overcome gravity's pull and leave the surface of the earth.