The picture below shows the Apollo spacecraft that took astronauts to the Moon in 1969. The spacecraft weighed 6.1 million pounds, and its motors produced 7.5 million pounds of thrust. Explain how the spacecraft left the surface of the earth.
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Responses
The spacecraft produced a downward force of thrust that was less than the downward force of gravity.
The spacecraft produced a downward force of thrust that was equal to the downward force of gravity.
The spacecraft produced an upward force of thrust that was greater than the downward force of gravity.
The spacecraft produced an upward force of thrust that was equal to the downward force of gravity.
1 answer
The spacecraft produced an upward force of thrust that was greater than the downward force of gravity. This allowed the spacecraft to overcome the force of gravity and leave the surface of the earth. The 7.5 million pounds of thrust produced by the motors pushed the spacecraft upward, and as it gained altitude, the force of gravity decreased. Once the spacecraft reached a certain altitude and speed, it was able to enter into orbit around the earth or continue on its journey to the moon.
1 answer