A 60.0 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

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