F r

2
, (1)
where is the constant angular velocity oI rotation oI our platIorm. The total work
done by this Iorce during the motion oI the particle Irom the centre to the periphery
is then

W 0.5 R
2

2
(2)

where R is the radius oI the platIorm.
According to the above-stated equivalence principle, we have to identiIy F with the
Iorce oI gravity on the platIorm, and W with the diIIerence oI gravitational potential
between the centre and the periphery.
Now, we must remember that, as we have seen in the previous lecture, the slowing
down oI the clock moving with the velocity v is given by the Iactor

II v is small as compared with c we can neglect other terms. According to the
deIinition oI the angular velocity we have v R and the slowing-down Iactor`
becomes (4) giving the change oI rate oI the clock in terms oI the diIIerence oI
gravitational potentials at the places oI their location.
II we place one clock at the basement and another on the top oI the EiIIel tower
(1000 Ieet high) the diIIerence oI potential between them will be so small that the
clock at the basement will go slower only by a Iactor 0.999,999,999,999,97.
On the other hand, the diIIerence oI gravitational potential between the surIace oI
the earth and the surIace oI the sun is much larger, giving the slowing down by a
Iactor 0.999,999,5, which can be noticed by very exact measurements. OI course,
nobody was going to place an ordinary clock on the surIace oI the sun and watch it
go! The physicists have much better means. By means oI the spectroscope we can
observe the periods oI vibration oI diIIerent atoms on the surIace oI the sun and
compare them with the periods oI the atoms oI the same elements put into the Ilame
oI a Bunsen-burner in the laboratory. The vibrations oI atoms on the surIace oI the
sun should be slowed down by the Iactor given by the Iormula (4) and the light
emitted by them should be somewhat more reddish than in the case oI terrestrial
sources. This red-shiIt` was actually observed in the spectra oI the sun and several
other stars, Ior which the spectra could be exactly measured, and the result agrees
with the value given by our theoretical Iormula.
Thus the existence oI the red-shiIt proved that the processes on the sun really take
place somewhat more slowly owing to higher gravitational potential on its surIace.
In order to get a measure Ior the curvature oI a light ray in the Iield oI gravity it is
more convenient to use the example oI the rocket-ship as given earlier. iI l is the
distance across the cabin, the time t taken by light to cross it is given by