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Physics
Classical Physics
Mechanics
An isolated object can rotate only about its center of mass
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[QUOTE="jbriggs444, post: 6320312, member: 422467"] An internal force is, in principle, no different from an external force. The only difference is where you have drawn the imaginary boundary between what is considered inside the system and what is considered outside. An internal force is a force from one entity inside the system acting on another entitity inside the system. An external force is a force from outside the system acting on an entity inside the system. If you have two skaters on the rink, facing each other, holding both of each other's hands and spinning together, the force of the hands of each skater on the other are internal forces. [Here I am considering the two skaters and their clothing as being inside the system and everything else as being outside]. Meanwhile, gravity and the supporting force from the rink on the blades of their skates are external forces. If I were to change my mind and consider a system consisting of one skater alone, the force on that skater's hands from the other skater would now be an external force. [/QUOTE]
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Physics
Classical Physics
Mechanics
An isolated object can rotate only about its center of mass
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