High School Inertial vs non inertial frames

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The discussion clarifies that whether a frame is inertial or non-inertial depends on the particle's acceleration rather than the frame itself. It highlights that Earth, while often treated as an inertial frame for practical experiments, is technically non-inertial due to its rotation. The effects of Earth's rotation can be negligible in certain contexts, such as in laboratory experiments, but are significant in fields like meteorology where the Coriolis force must be considered. The conversation emphasizes the importance of context in determining the appropriateness of treating a frame as inertial. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for accurate analysis in physics and engineering.
rudransh verma
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I previously thought Earth is inertial frame and relative to Earth non accelerating frames are inertial too. But after watching this video, I came to know that it’s not the frame with respect to which we decide whether a frame is inertial or not. It’s the particle.
When a particle is not accelerating the frame is inertial. When it’s accelerating frame is non inertial.
But how the author is saying there is acceleration even when the net force is zero? I don’t get that part.
Also for example we take Earth and lift example. If our lift is accelerating then what does that make the earth, a non inertial frame or inertial ?
 
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rudransh verma said:
I previously thought Earth is inertial frame

It can't be since it is rotating. Rotating reference frames are not inertial. But sometimes we can neglect those effect, and treat frame connected with Earth as inertial, but that is an approximation.
 
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Another very illuminating movie, one of my favorites, is

 
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rudransh verma said:
Also for example we take Earth and lift example. If our lift is accelerating then what does that make the earth, a non inertial frame or inertial ?
Part of the skill of physics/engineering is to know how to think about a problem.

Suppose you are doing experiments in a lab’ with colliding objects on an air-track. The fact that the Earth is rotating (so is non-inertial) is irrelevant – the effects on the experimental results are too small to have any detectable effects. You are therefore justified in treating the Earth as an inertial frame.

But if you are a meteorologist analysing large-scale patterns of air flow in the atmosphere., you cannot ignore the earth’s rotation. You must treat the Earth as a non-inertial frame. (Read about Coriolis force if you are not already familiar with it.)
 
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I built a device designed to brake angular velocity which seems to work based on below, i used a flexible shaft that could bow up and down so i could visually see what was happening for the prototypes. If you spin two wheels in opposite directions each with a magnitude of angular momentum L on a rigid shaft (equal magnitude opposite directions), then rotate the shaft at 90 degrees to the momentum vectors at constant angular velocity omega, then the resulting torques oppose each other...

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