A ball is dropped from a spacecraft revolving around the earth at a height of 120 km. What will happen to the ball ?

Options

A. it will fall down to the earth gradually
B. it will go very far in the space
C. it will continue to move with the same speed along the original orbit of spacecraft
D. it will move with the same speed, tangentially to the spacecraft.

Answer

C

Explanation

Since no external torque is applied therefore, according to law of conservation of angular momentum, the ball will continue to move with the same angular velocity along the original orbit of the spacecraft.