Free Frame Dragging Calculator

Estimate the Lense-Thirring frame-dragging precession rate of a gyroscope in orbit: Omega_LT = 2GJ / (c^2 * r^3), where J is the angular momentum of the central body.

kg m2/s
m

Precession Rate

0.00000000000003061105 rad/s

Precession (mas/yr)199.2693 mas/yr

Precession Rate vs Central Body Angular Momentum (J)

Lense-Thirring Frame Dragging

A rotating massive body drags the surrounding spacetime, causing gyroscopes to precess.

Formula

Omega_LT = 2GJ / (c^2 r^3)

  • *G* = gravitational constant
  • *J* = angular momentum of the central body
  • *c* = speed of light
  • *r* = orbital radius
  • This effect was confirmed by Gravity Probe B to within about 19% of the predicted value for Earth.

    Example Calculation

    Satellite at 630 km altitude around Earth (r = 7e6 m, J_Earth = 7.07e33 kg m2/s).

    1. 01Omega = 2 * 6.674e-11 * 7.07e33 / (8.988e16 * 3.43e20)
    2. 02= 9.437e23 / 3.083e37
    3. 03= 3.061e-14 rad/s
    4. 04In mas/yr: about 39 mas/yr

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