The International Space Station has a mass 1.8 × 10⁵ kg. A 70.0-kg astronaut inside the station pushes off one wall of the station so she accelerates at 1.50 m/s². What is the magnitude of the acceleration of the space station as the astronaut is pushing off the wall relative to an observer initially at rest relative to the space station before the push? A)5.8 × 10^-⁴ m/s² B)1.50 m/s² C)4.7 × 10^-⁴ m/s² D)zero E)3.9 × 10^-³ m/s²

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The astronaut and the space station are pushing on each other with equal and opposite forces. By Newton's third law, the acceleration of the space station is equal in magnitude but opposite in direction to the acceleration of the astronaut. The mass of the space station is much greater than the mass of the astronaut, so the acceleration of the space station is much smaller than the acceleration of the astronaut.

The International Space Station Has a Mass 1