[gr-qc/0610028] A Solar System Test of Mach's Principle with Gravimetric Data

Authors:  Alexander Unzicker, Karl Fabian
Abstract:  We present a new test for a possible Mach-Sciama dependence of the Gravitational constant G. According to Ernst Mach (1838-1916), the gravitational interaction depends on the distribution of masses in the universe. A corresponding hypothesis of Sciama (1953) on the gravitational constant, $c^2/G = \sum m_i/r_i$, can be tested since the elliptic earth orbit should then cause minute annual variations in G. The test is performed by analyzing the gravity signals of a network of superconducting gravimeters (SG) which reach a precision of $10^{-10} m/s^2$. After reducing the signal by modelling tidal, meteorologic and geophysical effects, no significant evidence for the above dependence is found.
[PDF]  [PS]  [BibTex]  [Bookmark]

Discussion related to specific recent arXiv papers
Post Reply
Garth Antony Barber
Posts: 59
Joined: July 19 2005
Affiliation: Published independent

[gr-qc/0610028] A Solar System Test of Mach''s Principle wit

Post by Garth Antony Barber » October 17 2006

Does G vary with r because of Mach's principle?

Their result was that no significant evidence for the dependence was found.

Unless, that is, M also varies with G such that GM is constant.....
http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/0405094
this variation (in G) is normally ’hidden’ by the compensating change in atomic masses that causes GM to be constant.
Garth

Post Reply