What Are Internal and External Forces in Materials?

AI Thread Summary
Internal forces are the forces that act within a material, typically defined as those that operate on an imaginary surface inside the material. In contrast, external forces originate from outside the material and act upon it, such as the tension applied by fingers pulling an elastic band. The example of stretching an elastic band illustrates this distinction well; the pull from the fingers is an external force, while the tension created within the band is an internal force resulting from that external action. Internal forces are in equilibrium until an external force disrupts that balance, such as cutting the band, which leads to unbalanced forces. Understanding the difference between internal and external forces is crucial for analyzing material behavior under various conditions.
DaveC426913
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I am having trouble explaining the difference between internal and external forces, and in fact, even *defining* internal forces.

Does anyone understand the difference very well?

My current example is:

Hold an elastic band loosely between both your index fingers. Now, move your fingers apart. This pull is an external force acting on the elastic. However, the elastic has changed. It's now tight and thinner than it was before. The tension of the elastic is an internal force. This is the *result* of the external force of the pull of your fingers.


Is this about right?
 
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Draw a surface just outside the object.
Any force from outside that surface is external.
This called a "free body diagram".
 
If you detemine the fingers as external forces, I think you can also look at the spring example as the solution of a system with two edge conditions determining the length of the spring. The Tension and the disformation of the spring hence form under x0=0 and x1=l, without regard to any external force.
 
What is "internal" and what "external" depend upon what the "system" is. You can always expand a "system" to include any outside forces.
 
DaveC426913 said:
I am having trouble explaining the difference between internal and external forces, and in fact, even *defining* internal forces.

Does anyone understand the difference very well?

My current example is:

Hold an elastic band loosely between both your index fingers. Now, move your fingers apart. This pull is an external force acting on the elastic. However, the elastic has changed. It's now tight and thinner than it was before. The tension of the elastic is an internal force. This is the *result* of the external force of the pull of your fingers.

Is this about right?

The "official" definition of an internal force is: the forces within in a material which act on an imaginary surface within the material. For your stretched elastic band, the internal forces are at equilibrium; cutting the elastic band will create unbalanced forces, causing the elastic band to move. Note that you can cut the band anywhere, and the band will essentially behave the same.

Internal forces are also called 'contact' forces, IIRC.
 
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