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A comment on NASA engineer's 'helical engine' may violate the laws of physics. Parent comment

Re:NASA engineer's 'helical engine' may violate the laws of ... by z3t4 on Wednesday October 16, 2019 @04:05PM (#21274878)
If you tie a rope to a hammer, then spin it around as fast as you can like a hammer thrower, and drop it. Wouldn't the breaking force propel you in the same direction your let go of the hammer?
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Re:NASA engineer's 'helical engine' may violate the laws of ... by antonvs on Wednesday October 16, 2019 @04:32PM (#21275203)
If you're in zero g and not on a surface with friction to push against, you're not going to be able to do what a hammer thrower can do standing on Earth.

But, if you provide some momentum to an object like a hammer and release it, you will move. That goes back to "you need to leave something behind in order to go somewhere."

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