-Which one of the following statements concerning this situation is true?
A)The spacecraft does not move, but the astronaut moves to the right with a constant speed.
B)The astronaut stops moving after he stops pushing on the spacecraft.
C)The force exerted on the astronaut is larger than the force exerted on the spacecraft.
D)The force exerted on the spacecraft is larger than the force exerted on the astronaut.
E)The velocity of the astronaut increases while he is pushing on the spacecraft.

Question

-Which one of the following statements concerning this situation is true?
A)The spacecraft does not move, but the astronaut moves to the right with a constant speed. 
B)The astronaut stops moving after he stops pushing on the spacecraft. 
C)The force exerted on the astronaut is larger than the force exerted on the spacecraft. 
D)The force exerted on the spacecraft is larger than the force exerted on the astronaut. 
E)The velocity of the astronaut increases while he is pushing on the spacecraft.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to Newton's third law, the forces exerted by the astronaut and the spacecraft on each other are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction. While the astronaut is pushing on the spacecraft, he experiences an acceleration, causing his velocity to increase.

-Which One of the Following Statements Concerning This Situation Is