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?
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 greater 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 less than 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 correct 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 why, let's break it down:
The Apollo spacecraft weighed about 5 million pounds, which means there was a downward force of gravity acting on it. Gravity pulls objects towards the center of the Earth, so in this case, it pulls the spacecraft towards the Earth's surface. This downward force of gravity is what gives the spacecraft its weight.
In order to achieve lift-off and leave the surface of the Earth, the spacecraft needed to counteract the downward force of gravity by applying an upward force of thrust. The motors on the spacecraft produced 7 million pounds of thrust, which is greater than the weight of the spacecraft.
When the upward force of thrust is greater than the downward force of gravity, the spacecraft experiences a net force pointing upwards, resulting in upward acceleration. This means that the spacecraft is able to overcome the force of gravity and leave the surface of the Earth.
Therefore, the statement "The spacecraft applied an upward force of thrust that was greater than the downward force of gravity" correctly explains how the spacecraft left the surface of the Earth.