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

It's the 3rd right?

Answer 2

Depends how far "away" is meant to be. For reasonably close distances, it always decreases, as the Earth's gravitational field weakens. However, if you then approach another heavenly body, i.e. another planet or the Sun, then the gravitational force would increase again.