Rigidly rotating disk paradox

In theoretical physics, a branch of physics, the rigidly rotating disk paradox, sometimes called the Ehrenfest paradox, is a paradox concerning a rotating disk. Basically, the paradox says that when a disk (or any circular object in general) is rotated, it will have a smaller circumference than 2πr, because the radius will remain the same, but the circumference is shortened due to the Lorentz contraction. For a more detailed explanation, see below.

Definition(s)

Mathematical definition

The angular velocity, ω, and the radius, R, of the rotating disk are shown

If the rotating disk has an angular velocity of ω, and a radius of R, then the circumference of the disk is ω·R. So the circumference will undergo a Lorentz contraction of ${\sqrt {1-{\frac {{\omega R}^{2}}{c^{2}}}}}$. However, the radius, R, will not undergo a Lorentz contraction since it is perpendicular to the direction of motion.

Therefore, the circumference divided by the diameter will end up being a little bit less than ${\pi }$.

Alternate explanation

The simpler definition is given by the following. To an observer X riding on the edge of the rotating disk, the effects of high-speed motion are still in place. So, if X were to crawl along the circumference with a ruler and measure the circumference, his ruler will be shortened (due to the Lorentz contraction) and he will have to lay out his ruler more times to measure the circumference. Therefore, he will measure the circumference to be greater than he would measure it to be if the disk were stationary.

If an observer Y were to sit on the radius of the rotating disk, he will measure the radius to be the same as he would measure it to be if the disk were stationary, since the radius is not affected by the Lorentz contraction (the radius is perpendicular to the direction of motion). Therefore, when observers X and Y compare their measurements, they find that

$C>2\pi R$

In verbal terms this means The circumference is greater than 2π times the radius. So, the circumference and the radius are not proportional by 2π in this case.

Explanation for the paradox

In differential geometry, there exists a certain type of mathematical plane called a hyperbolic plane. In it, if you draw a normal circle, the radius will remain the same, but the circumference will be greater than 2πr. Physicists began to realize that the accelerated angular motion of the disk caused a curvature in spacetime, therefore distorting the normal flat geometric plane, causing the circumference to be greater than 2πr.

Underlying this explanation is the fact that Euclidean geometry is not the actual geometry of space, but an approximation which works well at the level of human life.

Relation to gravity

Using an ingenious argument concerning the equivalence principle, Albert Einstein showed that the curvature in spacetime caused by the rotated disk could be a logical explanation for gravity. For more information on this topic, see Gravity and the rotating disk.