Two Examples of Circular Motion for Introductory Courses in Relativity

TL;DR

This paper presents accessible explanations of the circular twin paradox and Thomas Precession for introductory relativity courses, emphasizing experimental verifiability with macroscopic objects to enhance student understanding.

Contribution

It introduces simplified, experimental-friendly approaches to complex relativistic phenomena suitable for teaching at the introductory level.

Findings

Relativistic effects can be demonstrated with atomic clocks and gyroscopes.

Travel around polygons approaches circular motion in relativity.

Experimental verification supports teaching these phenomena.

Abstract

The circular twin paradox and Thomas Precession are presented in a way that makes both 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 tends to a circle. Since relativistic predictions based on these examples can be verified in experiments with macroscopic objects such as atomic clocks and the gyroscopes on Gravity Probe B, they are particularly convincing to introductory students.