Space, Time and Coordinates in a Rotating World

Abstract

The peculiarities of rotating frames of reference played an important role in the genesis of general relativity. Considering them, Einstein became convinced that coordinates have a different status in the general theory of relativity than in the special theory. This line of thinking was confused, however. To clarify the situation we investigate the relation between coordinates and the results of space-time measurements in rotating reference frames. We argue that the difference between rotating systems (or accelerating systems in general) and inertial systems does not lie in a different status of the coordinates (which are conventional in all cases), but rather in different global chronogeometric properties of the various reference frames. In the course of our discussion we comment on a number of related issues, such as the question of whether a consideration of the behavior of rods and clocks is indispensable for the foundation of kinematics, the influence of acceleration on the behavior of measuring devices, the conventionality of simultaneity, and the Ehrenfest paradox.