The principle of relativity and inertial dragging

Abstract

Mach’s principle and the principle of relativity have been discussed by Hartman and Nissim-Sabat. Several phenomena were said to violate the principle of relativity as applied to rotating motion. These claims have recently been contested by Bhadra and Das. However, neither set of authors allowed for the general relativistic phenomenon of inertial dragging, and no calculation was offered to substantiate their claims. I discuss the possible validity of the principle of relativity for rotating motion within the context of the general theory of relativity and discuss the significance of inertial dragging in this connection. Although my main points are of a qualitative nature, I also provide the necessary calculations to demonstrate how these points arise as consequences of the general theory of relativity.