Experiment on Relativistic Rigidity of a Rotating Disk
Abstract
Several theories have suggested the possibility that the space-time metric of a rotating disk could be nonstatic as well as non-Euclidean. These, and also a theory of optical aberration based on the Thomas precession of vectors, predict a (real or apparent) decrease in angular velocity with radius, even in an ideally 'rigid' disk, with a rim lag time period of alpha v squared/c squared, where v is rim speed, c is light speed, and alpha is a constant between 1 and 1/6, depending on the theory. A spinning-disk experiment was done at the Naval Ordnance Laboratory (NOL) over a four-month period of continuous rotation to look for such effects.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 30, 1973
- Accession Number
- AD0763330
Entities
People
- Thomas E. Phipps Jr.
Organizations
- Naval Ordnance Laboratory