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Mach's Principle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 March 2022

Parry Moon  and
Domina Eberle Spencer
Parry Moon
Affiliation:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Domina Eberle Spencer
Affiliation:
University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut
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Abstract

Recession of the galaxies indicates a repulsive force and suggests that Newton's formulation of gravitation is not complete. A possible modification is proposed, and this Neo-Newtonian equation allows a quantitative treatment of Mach's principle. It also limits the velocity of matter to c and gives a correct prediction for the perihelion of Mercury.

Type
Research Article
Information
Philosophy of Science , Volume 26 , Issue 2 , April 1959 , pp. 125 - 134
Copyright
Copyright © 1959 by Philosophy of Science Association

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References

1 E. Mach: Die Mechanik in ihrer Entwickelung historisch-kritisch dargestellt (Leipzig, 1883).

2 H. Bondi: Cosmology (Cambridge Univ. Press, 1952).

3 M. F. Tisserand: “Sur les mouvements des planètes autour du soleil, d'après la loi électro-dynamique de Weber”, C.R., 75, 1872, p. 760; “Sur les mouvements des planètes, en supposant l'attraction représentée par l'une des lois électrodynamiques de Gauss ou de Weber”, C.R., 110, 1890, p. 313; M. Levy: “Sur l'application des lois électrodynamiques au mouvement des planètes”, C.R., 110, 1890, p. 545; W. Ritz: “Recherches critiques sur l'électrodynamiques générale”, Ann. d. Chimie et de Phys., 13, 1908, p. 145; T. J. J. See: Electrodynamic wave-theory of physical forces (Nichols, Lynn, Mass., Vol. I, 1917; Vol. II, 1922); A. O'Rahilly: Electromagnetics (Longmans, Green and Co., London, 1938, pp. 527, 544); F. W. Warburton: “The advance of the perihelion of mercury”, Phys. Rev., 70, 1946, p. 86; D. W. Sciama: “On the origin of inertia”, R. A. S. Monthly Notices, 113, 1953, p. 34.

4 E. A. Milne: “A Newtonian expanding universe”, Quar. J. Math., 5, 1934, p. 64; W. H. McCrea and E. A. Milne: “Newtonian universes and the curvature of space”, Quar. J. Math., 5, 1934, p. 73; W. H. McCrea: “The steady-state theory of the expanding universe”, Endeavour, 9, 1950, p. 3.

5 P. Moon and D. E. Spencer, “A new electrodynamics”, J. Franklin Inst., 257, 1954, p. 369; “Electro-magnetism without magnetism: an historical sketch”, Am. J. Phys., 22, 1954, p. 120; “Some electromagnetic paradoxes”, J. Franklin Inst., 260, 1955, p. 373.

6 P. Moon and D. E. Spencer: “Newtonian cosmologies”, to be published.

7 W. H. McCrea, “On Newtonian frames of reference”, Math. Gazette, 39, 1955, p. 287.

8 See, for instance, R. B. Lindsay: Physical mechanics, (Van Nostrand Co., New York, 1950, p. 71).

9 M. L. Humason, N. U. Mayall, and A. R. Sandage: “Redshifts and magnitudes of extra-galactic nebulae”, Astron. J., 61, 1956, p. 97.

10 Landolt-Börnstein: Zahlenwerte und Funktionen aus Physik, Chemie, Astronomie, Geophysik, und Technik (Springer, Berlin, Vol. III, 1952).

11 As tabulated by C. L. Poor: Gravitation versus relativity (G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York, 1922, p. 191).

12 A. E. Eddington: The mathematical theory of relativity (Cambridge Univ. Press, 1924, p. 88).