ChatterBank1 min ago
Is There Such A Thing As Absolute Rotation?
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My understanding of General Relativity is that there are no absolute frames of reference and therefore all rotation is relative. Is this in conflict with the quantized rotation that occurs with superfluid helim4?
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The precise statement of Relativity is that inertial frames, those in which an observer is not accelerating, are all relative to each other by the Lorentz transformations. However rotation is not inertial -- in particular a frame rotating at any speed would at some point away from the origin be rotating faster than the speed of light -- so that rotation isn't magicked away by Relativity.
This isn't to say that you can't do rotation or acceleration in special relativity, it's more that you can't make them disappear. An object is either rotating, or it is not. An object is either accelerating, or it is not. Every inertial observer will agree on this statements, though they may (will) disagree on the actual numbers.
Therefore anyway, rotation (quantised or not) is not at all in conflict with Relativity. The way in which they interact can be interesting, though.
The precise statement of Relativity is that inertial frames, those in which an observer is not accelerating, are all relative to each other by the Lorentz transformations. However rotation is not inertial -- in particular a frame rotating at any speed would at some point away from the origin be rotating faster than the speed of light -- so that rotation isn't magicked away by Relativity.
This isn't to say that you can't do rotation or acceleration in special relativity, it's more that you can't make them disappear. An object is either rotating, or it is not. An object is either accelerating, or it is not. Every inertial observer will agree on this statements, though they may (will) disagree on the actual numbers.
Therefore anyway, rotation (quantised or not) is not at all in conflict with Relativity. The way in which they interact can be interesting, though.
I cannot accept Mark's answer because Einstein clearly regards rotation as relative according to what he calls "the general principle of relativity", see Albert Einstein (1879–1955). Relativity: The Special and General Theory. 1920. Chapter XXIII: Behaviour of Clocks and Measuring Rods on a Rotating Body of Reference. This can be found at, for example, http:// www.bar tleby.c om/173/ 23.html .
Mark states that at some distant point the speed would be greater than that of light - but this is not what the rotating observer measures because of the contraction of his measuring rods, space being grossly distorted.
Mark states that at some distant point the speed would be greater than that of light - but this is not what the rotating observer measures because of the contraction of his measuring rods, space being grossly distorted.
http:// en.wiki pedia.o rg/wiki /Thomas _rotati on
Most relevant effect I can find. In most cases relativistic corrections are important but not drastic for atomic energy levels.
Most relevant effect I can find. In most cases relativistic corrections are important but not drastic for atomic energy levels.
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