Bonn 2020 – scientific programme

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GR: Fachverband Gravitation und Relativitätstheorie

GR 14: Didactical Aspects of Relativity

GR 14.4: Talk

Thursday, April 2, 2020, 18:15–18:30, H-HS IV

Circular Sagnac experiment confirms equivalence principle — •Jordan Petrow — University of Rostock, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Scienses, Wismarsche Strasse 45, 18057 Rostock, Germany

In Albert Einstein's idea, the principle of relativity was derived from a moving train*paradigm. This hypothetical train is only a thought experiment,*while*practical measurements e.g.*on*light behaviour in this train are difficult. The*problems connected*with Einstein*s moving train can be*avoided by folding a rotationally symmetrical construction from this hypothetical train. The straight ahead movement of the train is replaced by a rotation. In this way, the novelty*we propose*is a circular Sagnac experiment as a device that is accessible for practical measurements. The*classical*Sagnac experiment was invented in 1913 and is currently used in many high technologies. The circular Sagnac experiment thus*may well rise*to a position to be honoured as the key experiment in physics. With it, many of the basic statements of modern physics can be verified. In particular, it demonstrates a fundamental relationship between space and matter. Previously more or less intuitive assumptions can be anchored in an experimentally determined set of formulas with the circular Sagnac device. Present activities aim at constructing the device to also experimentally confirm the equivalence principle.