I How is SR applied to circular motion?

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Special Relativity (SR) can be applied to circular motion, but it is important to note that gravity complicates the analysis, as it requires General Relativity (GR) for accurate predictions. In the case of a satellite orbiting Earth, the satellite is in free fall and experiences no proper acceleration, allowing SR to predict time dilation due to its velocity relative to an observer on the ground. The discussion highlights that while SR is typically formulated for inertial frames, it is possible to analyze non-inertial frames, though this can be more complex. The concept of proper time is crucial, as it reflects the time measured by a clock moving along with the object in question. Overall, understanding the distinctions between gravitational and non-gravitational forces is essential for applying SR correctly in circular motion scenarios.
  • #31
sweet springs said:
The author seems to believe Lorentz contraction is must. But sometimes a kind of "Lorentz extension" take place in rotation system.
At the end of page 9, the paper says:
"Now, as in Section 2, assume that the rotating ring is a series of independent short rods, uniformly distributed along the gutter. Each rod is relativistically contracted, but the ring is not. This means that the distances between the neighboring ends of the neighboring rods are larger than those for a nonrotating ring, so the proper length of the ring is also larger than that of a nonrotating ring. This is concluded also in [2]. This situation mimics a more realistic ring made of elastic material, where atoms play the role of short rigid rods. Owing to the rotation the distances between neighboring atoms increase, so there are tensile stresses in the material."
This quote shows that "Lorentz extension" is included.
 
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  • #32
Thanks for your suggestion. I agree him on this point.
Demystifier said:
This situation mimics a more realistic ring made of elastic material, where atoms play the role of short rigid rods. Owing to the rotation the distances between neighboring atoms increase, so there are tensile stresses in the material."
More ideal case is ring made of incompressible fluid rotating with speed u through the gutter with no friction. Depth or width of fluid from the gutter r outward side would become shallower or narrower as the speed u increases. Or metal ring melted by heat should congeal in new rotating environment. No ##\phi##-stress inside the metal but get compressed when it stops. Best.
 
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  • #33
Demystifier said:
At the end of page 9, the paper says:
"Now, as in Section 2, assume that the rotating ring is a series of independent short rods, uniformly distributed along the gutter. Each rod is relativistically contracted, but the ring is not. This means that the distances between the neighboring ends of the neighboring rods are larger than those for a nonrotating ring, so the proper length of the ring is also larger than that of a nonrotating ring. This is concluded also in [2]. This situation mimics a more realistic ring made of elastic material, where atoms play the role of short rigid rods. Owing to the rotation the distances between neighboring atoms increase, so there are tensile stresses in the material."
This quote shows that "Lorentz extension" is included.
You also noted in your paper that this is equivalent to linear cases, which I thought was a key observation. In my words, you have a rolled up version of Bell spaceship paradox. Because the circumference is constrained by the gutter to be the same as in the inertial frame, the local stretching increases without bound as rim speed approaches c. Just like a string constrained to maintain a fixed length in an inertial frame as it accelerates to c experiences unbounded local stretch.
 
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  • #34
PAllen said:
You also noted in your paper that this is equivalent to linear cases, which I thought was a key observation. In my words, you have a rolled up version of Bell spaceship paradox. Because the circumference is constrained by the gutter to be the same as in the inertial frame, the local stretching increases without bound as rim speed approaches c. Just like a string constrained to maintain a fixed lenegth in an inertial frame as it accelerates to c experiences unbounded local stretch.
Yes, exactly!
 

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