The Hafele-Keating experiment, velocity and length interval transformations and resolution of the Ehrenfest paradox

TL;DR

This paper reanalyzes the Hafele-Keating experiment using a relativistic framework, revealing new velocity transformations that resolve the Ehrenfest paradox by demonstrating the invariance of Earth's surface length intervals.

Contribution

It introduces novel relativistic velocity transformations that differ from conventional ones, resolving the Ehrenfest paradox for rotating Earth.

Findings

Predicted time differences align with experimental results after applying new transformations

Demonstrated invariance of length intervals on Earth's surface

Resolved the Ehrenfest paradox in the context of Earth's rotation

Abstract

A relativistic analysis based on the paths, in a non-rotating frame comoving with the centroid of the Earth, of clocks carried by aircraft circumnavigating the Earth in different directions, as in the Hafele-Keating experiment, predicts time differences between airborne and Earth-bound clocks at variance with the results of the experiment. The latter imply new relativistic velocity transformations differing from the conventional ones. These transformations demonstrate in turn the invariance of length intervals on the surface of the rotating Earth and so resolve the Ehrenfest paradox for this case.