8 research outputs found
Two Examples of Circular Motion for Introductory Courses in Relativity
The circular twin paradox and Thomas Precession are presented in a way that
makes both accessible to students in introductory relativity courses. Both are
discussed by examining what happens during travel around a polygon and then in
the limit as the polygon tends to a circle. Since relativistic predictions
based on these examples can be verified in experiments with macroscopic objects
such as atomic clocks and the gyroscopes on Gravity Probe B, they are
particularly convincing to introductory students.Comment: Accepted by the American Journal of Physics This version includes
revision