Non-time-orthogonality, Gravitational Orbits, and Thomas Precession

Abstract

Non-time-orthogonal analysis of rotating frames is applied to objects in gravitational orbits and found to be internally consistent. The object's surface speed about its axis of rotation, but not its orbital speed, is shown to be readily detectable by any "enclosed box" experimenter on the surface of such an object. Sagnac type effects manifest readily, but by somewhat subtle means. The analysis is extended to objects bound in non-gravitational orbit, where it is found to be fully in accord with the traditional analysis of Thomas precession.