Two examples of circular motion for introductory courses in relativity

摘要

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. (C) 2007. American Association of Physics Teachers.