A60.0 kg astronaut is freely floating in space and pushes on a freely floating 120.0 kg spacecraft with a force of 30.0 n for 1.50 s. (a) compare the forces exerted on the astronaut and the spacecraft, and (b) compare the acceleration of the astronaut to the acceleration of the spacecraft

Explanation:

mass of astronaut, m = 60 kg

mass of space craft, M = 120 kg

t = 1.5 s

Force on space craft = 30 N

(a) According to Newton's third law

Force on spacecraft by the astronaut = Force on astronaut by the space craft

Force on astronaut by the space craft  = 30 N

(b) According to Newton's second law

Force  = mass x acceleration

Let a be the acceleration of the astronaut

30 = 60 x a

a = 0.5 m/s^2

Let A be the acceleration of the spacecraft

30 = 120 x A

a = 0.25 m/s^2