In many situations in physics, the order of two events does not affect the final outcome. An exception to this rule occurs for the case of
A) two successive rotations performed on a body about different axes.
B) two successive translations given to a body about different axes.
C) two successive rotations performed on a body about the same axis.
D) two successive translations given to a body about the same axis.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Two successive rotations performed on a body about different axes can result in different final orientations depending on the order of the rotations, demonstrating the non-commutative nature of rotational operations. This is an exception to the rule that the order of events does not affect the outcome, unlike translations which are commutative whether they occur on the same or different axes.

In Many Situations in Physics, the Order of Two Events