An internal force is a force acting within a body, such as the particles holding a baseball together. An external force acts from outside the body, like a baseball bat hitting a baseball or the friction from car wheels on the ground. Internal forces are exerted by one part of a structure on another part, while external forces come from outside the structure.
5. EXAMPLE FOR INTERNAL FORCE
A baseball is a great example of
an internal force. The particles
holding the baseball together is
an internal force.
But a baseball bat hitting the
baseball is not an internal force,
because an internal force is a
force exerted by one part of a
structure on another.
5