When the spacecraft falls back to earth, a parachute helps it fall safely. Explain the forces acting during this landing.

The parachute’s downward force resists gravity’s upward force.

The parachute’s upward force resists gravity’s downward force.

The parachute’s upward force resists gravity’s upward force.

The parachute’s downward force resists gravity’s downward force.

1 answer

The correct answer is: The parachute’s upward force resists gravity’s downward force.
When the spacecraft falls back to Earth, gravity pulls it downward. The parachute creates drag as it opens up, which generates an upward force that counteracts the gravitational force pulling the spacecraft downward. This helps slow down the descent and allows for a safer landing.