Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Thomas Rotation and Thomas Precession

  • Published:
International Journal of Theoretical Physics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Exact and simple calculation of Thomas rotation and Thomas precessions along a circular world line is presented in an absolute (coordinate-free) formulation of special relativity. A straightforward derivation of the Fermi–Walker equation is also given. Besides the simplicity of calculations the absolute treatment of spacetime allows us to make a clear conceptual distinction between the phenomena of Thomas rotation and Thomas precession.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Costella, J. P., McKellar, B. H. J., Rawlinson, A. A., and Stephenson, G. J. (2001). American Journal of Physics 69, 837.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Herrera, L. and di Prisco, A. (2002). Foundations of Physics Letters 15, 373.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, W. L. (2002). European Journal of Physics 23, 235.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lévay, P. (2004). Journal of Physics A: Mathematics and Generalities 37, 4593.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matolcsi, T. (1993). Spacetime Without Reference Frames, Akadémiai Kiadó Budapest.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matolcsi, T. (1998). Foundations of Physics 27, 1685.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matolcsi, T. and Goher, A. (2001). Stud. Hist. Philos. Modern Phys. 32, 83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mocanu, C. (1992). Foundations of Physics Letters 5, 443.

    Google Scholar 

  • Møller, M. C. (1972). The Theory of Relativity, 2nd edn., Clarendon Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muller, R. A. (1992). American Journal of Physics 60, 313.

    Google Scholar 

  • Philpott, R. J. (1996). American Journal of Physics 64, 552.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rebilas, K. (2002). American Journal of Physics 70, 1163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhodes, J. A. and Semon, M. D. (2004). American Journal of Physics 72, 943.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowe, E. G. P. (1984). European Journal of Physics 5, 40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, L. H. (1927). Philos. Mag. 3, 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ungar, A. A. (1989). Foundations of Physics 19, 1385.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ungar, A. A. (2001). Beyond the Einstein addition law and its gyroscopic Thomas precession. The theory of gyrogroups and gyrovector spaces. In Fundamental Theories of Physics, Vol. 117, Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Analysis, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary

    Tamás Matolcsi

  2. Department of Analysis, Alfréd Rényi Institute of Mathematics, Budapest, Hungary

    Máté Matolcsi

Authors
  1. Tamás Matolcsi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Máté Matolcsi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Máté Matolcsi.

Additional information

Supported by Hungarian research fund OTKA-T048489.

Supported by Hungarian research funds OTKA-T047276, F049457, T049301.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Matolcsi, T., Matolcsi, M. Thomas Rotation and Thomas Precession. Int J Theor Phys 44, 63–77 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10773-005-1437-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10773-005-1437-y

KEY WORDS

Search

Navigation