English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

In special relativity a gyroscope that is suspended in a torque-free mannerwill precess as it is moved along a curved path relative to an inertial frameS. We explain this effect, which is known as Thomas precession, by consideringa real grid that moves along with the gyroscope, and that by definition is notrotating as observed from its own momentary inertial rest frame. From the basicproperties of the Lorentz transformation we deduce how the form and rotation ofthe grid (and hence the gyroscope) will evolve relative to S. As anintermediate step we consider how the grid would appear if it were not lengthcontracted along the direction of motion. We show that the uncontracted gridobeys a simple law of rotation. This law simplifies the analysis of spinprecession compared to more traditional approaches based on Fermi transport. Wealso consider gyroscope precession relative to an accelerated reference frameand show that there are extra precession effects that can be explained in a wayanalogous to the Thomas precession. Although fully relativistically correct,the entire analysis is carried out using three-vectors. By using theequivalence principle the formalism can also be applied to static spacetimes ingeneral relativity. As an example, we calculate the precession of a gyroscopeorbiting a static black hole. In an addendum the general reasoning is extendedto include also rotating reference frames.

Gyroscope precession in special and general relativity from basic principles