Solar Sail Could Test Einstein's Frame Dragging Hypothesis
2010, July 30 - 8:34am — Greg Kontos
Professor Roman Kezerashvili recently presented at the International Symposium on Solar Sailing at New York's City College of Technology. The topic of his presentation was using a sail sail space craft to test one of the hypothesis of Einstein's general theory of relativity, namely the frame dragging hypothesis.
What is the Frame Dragging Hypothesis
Frame Dragging predicts that a spinning object will drag space time around itself as it spins. This effect will move an object out of the position predicted by Newtonian physics. There are three types of frame dragging effect listed by Wikipedia; Rotational, Linear, and Static Mass Increase. It sounds like the solar sail would test the Rotational Frame Dragging effect. From WikiPedia:
Rotational frame-dragging (the Lense-Thirring effect) appears in the general principle of relativity and similar theories in the vicinity of rotating massive objects. Under the Lense-Thirring effect, the frame of reference in which a clock ticks the fastest is one which is rotating around the object as viewed by a distant observer. This also means that light traveling in the direction of rotation of the object will move around the object faster than light moving against the rotation as seen by a distant observer. It is now the best-known effect, partly thanks to the Gravity Probe B experiment.
To be honest, I would need to study more to understand how that would make a solar sail spin differently depending on it's distance from the Sun. But that's why Roman Kezerashvili and other physicists have jobs.
Solar Sails
A solar sail is a huge sheet of plastic spinning through space. The piece of plastic is pushed through space by photons from the sun generating a very small, but constant acceleration. JAXA successfully deployed a solar sail in May, 2010. The craft is called the IKAROS, which is presently on it's way to venus. IKAROS has a 20m diagonal and an area of about 400 sq meters. The Planetary Society also has a planned solar sail project called LightSail-1. LightSail-1 will have an area of about 31 sq. meters.
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Theory of Everything
Einstein was right about the shortcomings of Quantum Mechanics and so therefore String Theory is also the incorrect approach. As an alternative to Quantum Theory there is a new theory that describes and explains the mysteries of physical reality. While not disrespecting the value of Quantum Mechanics as a tool to explain the role of quanta in our universe. This theory states that there is also a classical explanation for the paradoxes such as EPR and the Wave-Particle Duality. The Theory is called the Theory of Super Relativity and is located at: http://www.superrelativity.org
This theory is a philosophical attempt to reconnect the physical universe to realism and deterministic concepts. It explains the mysterious.
IKAROS can steer
MSNBC
IKAROs is apparently able to steer in space, too.
Liquid crystal panels on the edges of the sail can change their surface reflection of sunlight by using low amounts of electricity to turn on or off. The "on" setting creates a mirror-like reflection that pushes the spacecraft forward, while the "off" setting has a more diffuse reflection that redirects the pressure of sunlight in all directions, lessening the force against the sail.
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