The law of conservation of angular momentum is often explained using the example of a skater spinning on ice. The skater in a spin with arms out spins faster as she draws her arms inwards because of conservation of angular momentum. But how accurate is this explanation?. I would say she also adds to her angular momentum because she must perform work to pull her arms inward.
Assuming friction with the ice is negligible, and assuming she has unlimited strength she could in theory cause her self to spin as fast she wants by repeatedly allowing her arms to move outwards and then drawing them inwards. Or is there a flaw in my analysis? Harry
