Year: 2007
Type: article
Abstract: The circular twin paradox and Thomas precession are presented in a way that makes them 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 becomes a circle. Because relativistic predictions based on these examples are verified in experiments with macroscopic objects (such as atomic clocks flown in airplanes and the gyroscopes on Gravity Probe B), they are especially convincing to introductory students.
Source: American Journal of Physics
DOI: 10.1119/1.2779883
Authors: Stephanie Wortel, Shimon Malin, Mark D. Semon
Institutions: Colgate University, Bates College
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: CERN
OpenAlex ID: W2084235111