4 ms·
It's an approximation, though. You can't really describe a rotating body looking only at its centre of mass. So it does summarise the whole in the sense that we
by kergonath 5y ago
It's an approximation, though. You can't really describe a rotating body looking only at its centre of mass. So it does summarise the whole in the sense that we choose to ignore what it cannot describe and live with it, but it's more a matter of convenience than a profound meaning.
- morei 5y agoNo, that's exactly the point. Knowing the center of mass and the moment of inertia is sufficient: You don't know need to know the exact shape, or the variations in density inside the object etc etc.