Question

what is held to earth's surface due to gravitation

Answer 1

Hi...dear !!

Force is held due to earth's gravitation.

Answer 2

However, where the 11km per hour comes in is that it is the speed at which an object, rather than being heldin orbit around the earth or falling back to it due to gravity, will be thrown outwards by sufficient centrifugal force to describe an open curve away from the planet.