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.
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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 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 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 greater than the downward force of gravity.
The correct statement is:
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 Newton's third law of motion, which states that every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
In this case, the action is the thrust produced by the spacecraft's motors, and the reaction is the force pushing the spacecraft upwards. To overcome the force of gravity, the spacecraft needs to apply an upward force of thrust that is greater than the downward force of gravity.
Therefore, the correct statement is:
The spacecraft applied an upward force of thrust that was greater than the downward force of gravity.