Question

During a planned man-oeuvre in a space flight, a free-floating astronaut $A$ pushes another free-floating astronaut $B$, the mass of $A$ being greater than that of $B$. Then, the magnitude of the force exerted by astronaut $A$ on astronaut $B$ is

• A. Equal to zero
• B. Equal to the force exerted by $B$ on $A$
• C. Greater than the force exerted by $B$ on $A$
• D. Less than the force exerted by $B$ on $A$

Answer 1

The correct option is B Equal to the force exerted by $B$ on $A$

According to Newton's third law of motion, if one object exerts a force on the second object, then the second object applies an equal but opposite force on the first object. Hence if A exerts a force on B, then B will exert the same force on A.