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Title

Linearized Kerr and spinning massive bodies: An electrodynamics analogy
Authors

T. Franklin
Organization: Reed College
Department: Department of Physics
P. T. Baker
Organization: Reed College
Department: Department of Physics
Journal / Anthology

American Journal of Physics
Year: 2007
Volume: 75
Issue: 4
Page range: 336-342
Description

We discuss the correspondence between spinning, charged spherical sources in electrodynamics and spinning, massive spherical sources in linearized general relativity and show that the form of the potentials and equations of motion are similar in the two cases in the slow motion limit. This similarity allows us to interpret the Kerr metric in analogy with a spinning sphere in electrodynamics and aids in understanding linearized general relativity, where the "forces" are effective and come from the intrinsic curvature of space-time.
Subject

*Science > Physics
Keywords

general relativity and gravitation, Kerr metric