Explain the coin rotation paradox if you can

Zoot Allures

Well-known member
Jan 23, 2017
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Sidereal day is different than solar day because of perspective which is the same as the revolving coin thing as the coin does not spin an extra turn from the perspective of the coin

In astronomy that is taken into account as some genius figured it out

I wonder if same thing hapens in four dimensions? I assume it would
 
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Zoot Allures

Well-known member
Jan 23, 2017
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I got it

My first thought was it is an optical illusion but it is not because it happens. Even though coin travels same distance it spins an extra revolution when it travels around a circle

The coin obviously rotates an extra turn when it travels a circular path opposed to a straight line even though the distances are the same .

The extra turn is because coin travels around another circle.


From the perspective of the either coin it does not it does not travel an extra turn.

Stand inside the circle and watch the coin rotate around you and you will not see an extra spin.

Stand inside the coin that is revolving and you will not see an extra spin.


You only see an additional spin with the outside perspective of watching coin spin around a circle

WTF would happen if coin traveled around a square with the same perimeter as the circle?

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Big Rig

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May 6, 2009
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WTF would happen if coin traveled around a square with the same perimeter as the circle?


What happens if a square travels around another congruent square?

Same thing. Add one revolution


If the problem had instead been place 2 identicle coins on top of each other and spin the top one. How many turns? Answer is one
Roll one around the other takes 2 turns because coin also travels around the curvature of the
other coin so you add one revolution

That it does not travel an extra turn from the perspective of the coin does not negate the fact that it has traveled an extra turn. It is the coins own perspective that is the illusion



 
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