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 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 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 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 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.
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The correct statement is:
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.
To determine how the spacecraft left the surface of the earth, we need to consider the forces involved. In this case, we have the downward force of gravity acting on the spacecraft, and the upward force of thrust produced by its motors. The spacecraft needs to overcome the force of gravity to lift off.
Given that the spacecraft weighed about 5 million pounds and its motors produced 7 million pounds of thrust, we can conclude that the spacecraft applied an upward force of thrust that was greater than the downward force of gravity. This is because the 7 million pounds of thrust exceeds the weight of the spacecraft (5 million pounds), allowing it to overcome gravity and leave the surface of the Earth.
Therefore, the correct statement is:
The spacecraft applied an upward force of thrust that was greater than the downward force of gravity.