The Relative Space: Space Measurements on a Rotating Platform

Abstract

We introduce here the concept of relative space, an extended 3-space which is recognized as the only space having an operational meaning in the study of the space geometry of a rotating disk. Accordingly, we illustrate how space measurements are performed in the relative space, and we show that an old-aged puzzling problem, that is the Ehrenfest's paradox, is explained in this purely relativistic context. Furthermore, we illustrate the kinematical origin of the tangential dilation which is responsible for the solution of the Ehrenfest's paradox.

14 pages, 2 EPS figures, LaTeX, to appear in the European Journal of Physics

References in corpus (1)

• Space geometry of rotating platforms: an operational approach

Cited by in corpus (6)

• Spatial geometry of the rotating disk and its non-rotating counterpart
• Reference frames and rigid motions in relativity
• Reference frames and rigid motions in relativity: Applications
• Time desynchronization and Ehrenfest paradox
• Ehrenfest Paradox: A Careful Examination
• Timeless Relativistic Approach to Classical Mechanics