a) According to Newton's third law, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In this case, if the astronaut pulls on the space station, exerting a force on it, the space station will exert an equal and opposite force on the astronaut. This reaction force will cause the astronaut to move towards the space station and eventually pull herself back.
b) When the astronaut pulls forward on her space suit, she is exerting a force on her own body. According to Newton's third law, her body will exert an equal and opposite force back onto her. This reaction force cannot push her back towards the space station as the force is acting on the astronaut herself and not on any external object.
c) If the astronaut is holding a tool, and she throws the tool in the opposite direction of her drift, she will experience a reaction force according to Newton's third law. The force from throwing the tool will cause an equal and opposite force on the astronaut, propelling her back towards the space station.
During a spacewalk, an astronaut notices that her tether is not attached, and she is drifting away from
the space station. Explain each statement below using Newton’s third law.
a) She can pull herself back to the space station if she can reach the space station and pull on it.
b) She cannot push herself back to the space station by pulling forward on her space suit.
c) She can get back to the space station, even if she cannot reach it, if she is holding a tool.
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