Question

When a spacecraft travels away from Earth, the gravitational force acting on it

increases

decreases

increases first and then decreases

decreases first and then increases

Answer 1

Gravitational force on aircraft at some distance from the Earth is given as

`F = (Gm_1m_2)/(r^2)`

here we know that

`m_1`= mass of Earth

`m_2` = mass of aircraft

r = distance between center of earth and aircraft

now as the aircraft is flying away from the surface of Earth so here the distance between them is increasing with the motion of aircraft

So as it moves away the force between them will decrease

So here we can say that

When a spacecraft travels away from Earth, the gravitational force acting on it

decreases

Answer 2

The correct answer is decreases

The further away you are the weaker it would be. That's why at one point you stop being in the field and ti doesn't pull you towards it anymore. Proportionally, if you move towards the Earth then it increases.