Special relativity - observing spinning objects

[Mentz114]

I did a thought experiment - suppose we have a simple clock comprising a disc rotating with constant angular velocity. We can read off time inervals by counting the revs.

Another observer, passing at constant velocity will see the disc rotating at a slower rate, since moving clocks run slower.

Does this mean that all spinning objects appear to be spinning slower from another frame ?

In other words, does angular velocity transform like time in SR ?

 

[meopemuk]

I did a thought experiment - suppose we have a simple clock comprising a disc rotating with constant angular velocity. We can read of time inervals by counting the revs.

Another observer, passing at constant velocity will see the disc rotating at a slower rate, since moving clocks run slower.

Does this mean that all spinning objects appear to be spinning slower from another frame ?

In other words, does angular velocity transform like time in SR ?

Yes, I think your observation is correct.

Eugene.

 

[Mentz114]

Hi Eugene,
yes, it seems inevitable. It is a bit puzzling because angular velocity has dimension of reciprocal time.

I wonder if angular momentum transforms the same ?

M

 

[meopemuk]

Hi Eugene,
yes, it sems inevitable. It is a bit puzzling because angular velocity has dimension of reciprocal time.

To be more precise, I think that the rotation period of a moving object should increase by the factor \gamma = (1-v^2/c^2)^{-1/2}. Then the rotation speed of such an object should go down, i.e., the factor is \gamma^{-1}.

Eugene.

 

[Mentz114]

Agreed. Nothing to it. It's only a kinematic effect in any case. Thanks for the input.