Angular momentum without rotation: Turbocharging relationalism.

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Philosophy of Science

Background:

• The debate between absolute and relational space-time theories has long been challenged by phenomena of rotation.
• Newton's rotating bucket and recent analyses have posed significant problems for relationalist accounts of rotation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a relationalist framework that can account for all rotational effects.
• To challenge the necessity of a fixed standard of rotation in explaining rotational phenomena.

Main Methods:

• Development of a novel relational theory incorporating an SO(3) structure.
• Application of modern gauge theory principles to describe rotational effects.
• Coupling of a universal SO(3) charge to inter-particle relations.

Main Results:

• The proposed theory successfully explains rotational effects without invoking an absolute standard of rotation.
• Rotational phenomena are described by a simple relational law derived from gauge theory.
• The theory reconciles Newtonian mechanics with relationalism using conserved charges.

Conclusions:

• A new, enriched form of relationalism can account for rotation, overcoming a major challenge to the view.
• The theory offers a relational explanation for rotational effects, consistent with conserved charges and gauge theories.
• This work provides a foundation for further exploration of the ontological and explanatory implications of relationalism in physics.