Precession of a gyroscope in the presence of a gravitational field is of considerable interest, on account of the soon to be launched satellite test and because of its connection to Mach’s principle. Nevertheless, this topic is not generally covered in the curriculum because of the mathematical sophistication required. We examine some of the simple physics involved and argue that by examining simple graviton-elementary particle couplings one can easily understand this phenomenon.
REFERENCES
1.
L.
Schiff
, “Possible New Experimental Test of General Relativity Theory
,” Phys. Rev. Lett.
4
, 215
–217
(1960
).2.
W.
de Sitter
, “On Einstein’s Theory of Gravitation and its Astronomical Consequences
,” Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc.
77
, 155
–184
, 481E (1916
).3.
H.
Thirring
, “Über die Wirkung rotierender ferner Massen in der Einsteinschen Gravitationstheorie
,” Phys. Zeit.
19
, 33
–39
(1918
);J.
Lense
and H.
Thirring
, “Über den Einfluss der Eigenrotation der Zentralkörper auf die Bewegung der Planeten und Monde nach der Einsteinschen Gravitationstheorie
,” Phys. Zeit.
19
, 156
–63
(1918
).4.
S. Weinberg, Gravitation and Cosmology (Wiley, New York, 1972), Chap. 9.7.
5.
See, e.g., H. C. Ohanian, Gravitation and Spacetime (Norton, New York, 1976), Chap. 8.
6.
L. H.
Thomas
, “The Motion of the Spinning Electron
,” Nature (London)
117
, 514
(1926
);L. H.
Thomas
, “Kinematics of an Electron with an Axis
,” Phil. Mag.
3
, 1
–22
(1927
).7.
R. A.
Muller
, “Thomas Precession: Where is the Torque?
,” Am. J. Phys.
60
, 313
–317
(1992
).8.
J. D. Bjorken and S. D. Drell, Relativistic Quantum Mechanics (McGraw–Hill, New York, 1964).
9.
T. A.
Welton
, “Some Observable Effects of the Quantum-Mechanical Fluctuations
,” Phys. Rev.
74
, 1157
–1167
(1948
).10.
See, e.g., B. R. Holstein, Topics in Advanced Quantum Mechanics (Addison–Wesley, Reading, MA, 1992), Chap. VII.
11.
J.
Schwinger
, “Precession Tests of General Relativity—Source Theory Derivation
,” Am. J. Phys.
42
, 507
–510
(1974
).12.
J.
Schwinger
, “Spin Precession—a Dynamical Discussion
,” Am. J. Phys.
42
, 510
–513
(1974
).13.
C. F.
Cho
and N. D.
Hari Dass
, “Equivalence Principle, Stress Tensor, and Long-Range Behavior of Gravitational Interaction
,” Phys. Rev. D
14
, 2511
–2517
(1976
).
This content is only available via PDF.
© 2001 American Association of Physics Teachers.
2001
American Association of Physics Teachers
AAPT members receive access to the American Journal of Physics and The Physics Teacher as a member benefit. To learn more about this member benefit and becoming an AAPT member, visit the Joining AAPT page.
