We present a pedagogical discussion of the Coriolis field, emphasizing its not-so-well-understood aspects. We show that this field satisfies the field equations of the so-called Newton–Cartan theory, a generalization of Newtonian gravity that is covariant under changes of arbitrarily rotating and accelerated frames. Examples of solutions of this theory are given, including the Newtonian analogue of the Gödel universe. We discuss how to detect the Coriolis field by its effect on gyroscopes, of which the gyrocompass is an example. Finally, using a similar framework, we discuss the Coriolis field generated by mass currents in general relativity, and its measurement by the gravity probe B and LAGEOS/LARES experiments.
References
Actually, in a gratifying acknowledgment of angular momentum conservation, they use two counter-rotating spinning wheels.
These terms are minus the acceleration of the origin of the frame , the centrifugal force per unit mass , and the so-called Euler force per unit mass .
The exact version of Eqs. (42)–(45) is obtained from Eqs. (90)–(91) and (93)–(94) of Ref. 22 taking the case of rigid frames (K(ij) = θ = 0 therein) and a dust source, and restoring the c and G factors (c = G = 1 in the unit system of Ref. 22). They read , , where . These equations yield Eqs. (21) exactly when c → ∞.