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On the perihelion precession as a Machian effectA Lagrangian is constructed which gives Newtonian gravity in the lowest-order approximation in an isotropic universe and also predicts the correct advance of the perihelion with the proper choice of a constant governing the ratio of inertial to gravitational mass. The situation considered is that of a test particle orbiting a central body with external mass at rest and distributed isotropically at large distances from the central body. In the theory developed, the perihelion advance is due to a small contribution to the test-particle inertial mass by the central attracting body rather than to a failure of the inverse-square law of attraction. Some interesting Machian features of this theory are that: (1) the local value of the gravitational constant is determined by the mass distribution of the external matter; (2) the orbits are fixed, and the perihelion advances unambiguously with respect to the external-mass distribution; (3) there are no vestiges of absolute space; (4) the perihelion precession arises from the inertial interaction of the test particle with the central mass; (5) the local rest mass is really determined by the mass distribution of the rest of the universe; and (6) a limited form of the equivalence principle is inherent in one of the equations.
Document ID
19770039682
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Eby, P. B.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Space Sciences Laboratory, Huntsville, Ala., United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
January 15, 1977
Publication Information
Publication: Nuovo Cimento
Subject Category
Nuclear And High-Energy Physics
Accession Number
77A22534
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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