Submitted by starfyredragon t3_zmt3lg in askscience
JCSterlace t1_j0ggxgj wrote
Reply to comment by obog in Does rotation break relativity? by starfyredragon
The rotation of an isolated solid object does not need a constant force to continue - angular momentum is conserved. Some internal forces holding the object together (to make it solid) would be acting centripetally, but that's internal to the object, not acting on the object.
obog t1_j0gjdr9 wrote
Those internal forces are what I meant, as such the object is still technically accelerating
VoilaVoilaWashington t1_j0gmqc8 wrote
The internal forces are causing the outer parts to accelerate around the center. If you swing a hammer while you spin in a circle, it's your hand that's accelerating the hammer and keeping it moving around you. Let go, and it goes flying.
That was their point - you need something keeping it all together outside the center of mass, or it will just fall apart.
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