Abstract
The paper investigates the equations for geodesics, null geodesics, and spatial geodesics in rotating systems. Geodesics and null geodesics have, as usual, been interpreted as the paths of free particles and of light rays, respectively. Spatial geodesics are given a firm interpretation as the shortest paths between points within the rotating system, where the path length is measured by an observer in the rotating system who moves along the spatial geodesic. The paper shows that equations for geodesics in rotating systems may be derived by the traditional method, i.e., from the flat-space metric of general relativity, or by means of the instantaneous Lorentz frames approach. This supports the use of instantaneous Lorentz frames as a valid method for the analysis of events in rotating systems.
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References
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Ashworth, D.G., Davies, P.A. Geodesics in rotating systems. Int J Theor Phys 16, 845–861 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01807617
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01807617