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.

Question

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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 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 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.
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Answer 1

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.

This is because in order for the spacecraft to lift off the ground and overcome the gravitational pull of the Earth, the thrust produced by the engines had to be greater than the weight of the spacecraft.