- #1
DocZaius
- 365
- 11
If you spin on a chair with your arms and legs out and then pull them in, your rotation accelerates. What torque is responsible for that acceleration? It seems to me all the movement is towards the axis of rotation and should not be responsible for any torque. In fact, take an idealized body that can reduce its radius with movements entirely towards the axis of rotation. Where does the torque come from?
I know that the moment of inertia has changed, and from that point of view it makes sense that the angular velocity would increase. I was just trying to look at it from a free body diagram perspective.
I know that the moment of inertia has changed, and from that point of view it makes sense that the angular velocity would increase. I was just trying to look at it from a free body diagram perspective.