Ehrenfest paradox

E735841

The Ehrenfest paradox is a thought experiment in special relativity that highlights the apparent contradictions arising from applying relativistic length contraction to a rigid rotating disk.

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Ehrenfest paradox canonical 1

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Predicate Object
instanceOf paradox in physics
special relativity paradox
thought experiment
addresses consistency of special relativity with rotating rigid disks
definition of rigidity in relativistic physics
geometry of space measured by rotating observers
context discussion of rigid bodies in relativity
early development of special relativity
describes apparent contradiction between special relativity and rigid rotation
different length contraction of circumference and radius of a rotating disk
incompatibility of global rigid rotation with special relativity
non-Euclidean spatial geometry in rotating frames
relativistic effects in rotating frames
field special relativity
theoretical physics
hasAspect application of Lorentz contraction to a rotating rim
assumption of a perfectly rigid disk
stress and strain in relativistic rotating bodies
transition from rest to uniform rotation
hasConsequence demonstrates impossibility of perfectly rigid bodies in relativity
implies spatial geometry in rotating frame is non-Euclidean
motivates use of general relativity for rotating systems
shows limitations of naive application of Lorentz contraction
mainSubject Born rigidity
circumference-to-radius ratio
length contraction
non-inertial reference frames
relativistic rigidity
relativistic rotation
rigid body motion
rotating disk
spacetime geometry
namedAfter Paul Ehrenfest NERFINISHED
proposedBy Paul Ehrenfest NERFINISHED
publicationYear 1909
relatedTo Bell's spaceship paradox NERFINISHED
Born rigidity NERFINISHED
Lorentz contraction NERFINISHED
Minkowski spacetime NERFINISHED
Sagnac effect NERFINISHED
general relativity NERFINISHED
non-inertial coordinate systems
relativistic rigid body problem
rotating reference frames
resolvedBy abandonment of perfectly rigid bodies in relativity
introduction of Born rigidity concept
recognition of non-Euclidean spatial geometry in rotating frames

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Paul Ehrenfest notableWork Ehrenfest paradox