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Thomas Precession |
 | | To understand how the Thomas precession for simple circular motion can be deduced from the basic principles of special relativity, we can begin by supposing the circular path of a particle is approximated by an n-sided polygon, and consider the transition from one of these sides to the next, as illustrated below. |
| | This is the amount by which the two vectors are skewed with respect to the K frame due to the transition around a single vertex of the polygon, given that the transported vector makes an angle q with the edge leading into the vertex. |
| | It just so happens that a particular magnetic interaction yields a precession of twice the frequency, and the opposite sign, as the Thomas precession, so the sum of the two effects is half the size of the magnetic effect alone. |
| www.mathpages.com /rr/s2-11/2-11.htm (2004 words) |
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