Abstract
Starting with the idea that the inertia of bodies is a general property of all kinds of their potential energy, the author arrives at the two fundamental “megaphysical” equations (I, II)0 Π+c2=0,0 ϕ=0 where0 Π is the scalar gravitational potential due to the smoothed-out universe,0 ϕ is its electrostatic potential andc denotes the light velocity in vacuo.
The first equation means physically that the cosmic potential0 Π determines uniquely the velocity of light and consequently the pseudo-Euclidean geometry in an inertial frame, in the absence of local gravitational fields. This fact implies the validity of the law of inertia in a non-empty universe only, in full agreement with Mach's principle.
If we adopt, for the cosmic potential, that of Seeliger, differing from the Newtonian potential by the exponential factor exp (−r/rg), we can use Eq. (I) to estimate the lower limit of the range rg of gravitational interaction within the limits (1010–1012) light years. This suggests a steadystate model of the universe consisting of an unlimited number of finite regions (“sub-universes”) oscillating independently of each other. Such a superlarge-scale model universe is in agreement with the observed galactic red shift and yet it fulfils the perfect cosmological principle.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adler R., Bazin M., Schiffer M.: Introduction to General Relativity. McGraw-Hill, 1965.
Møller C.: The Theory of Relativity. Clarendon Press, Oxford 1955.
Sciama D. W.: Mon. Not. Roy. Astro. Soc.113 (1953), 34.
Horák Z., Bull. Astr. of Czechoslovakia14 (1963), 117, 119.
Dicke R. H.:in Chiu-Hoffmann: Gravitation and Relativity. New York 1964, Chapter 7.
Whittaker, Sir Edmund: A History of the Theories of Aether and Electricity (The Modern Theories 1900–1926), Nelson, London 1961.
Ives H. E.: Journ. Opt. Soc. Am.42 (1952), 540.
Cullwick E. G.: Electromagnetism and Relativity. Longmans, London, 1959.
Lehnert B.: Dynamics of Charged Particles. North-Holand Publ. Co., Amsterdam 1964, 239.
Landau L. D., Lifšic E. M.: Teoria Polja, Fizmatgiz, Moskva 1962, 200.
Heaviside O.: Electrician, 23 Nov., 1888; Phil. Mag.27 (1889), 324; Electrical papers, Vol. II, 510.
Horák Z.: Elektrotechnický obzor (Prague)57 (1968), 356.
Bondi H.: Cosmology. University Press, Cambridge 1955, 1960.
Friedman A.: Z. Phys.10 (1922), 377.
Hoyle F.: Mon. Not. Roy. Astro. Soc.108 (1948), 372.
McCrea W. H.: Proc. Roy. Soc.206 (1951), 562.
Brans C., Dicke R. H., Phys. Rev.124 (1961), 925.
Guggenheimer K. M.: Nature193 (1962), 664.
Gürsey F.: Annals Phys.24 (1963), 212.
Einstein A.: The Meaning of Relativity. Methuen, London, 1950.
Ivanenko D. D.:in Problemy gravitacii. Tbilisi 1965, 195.
Horák Z.: Práce ČVUT v Praze, II,4 (1964), 51.
Horák Z.: Vesmír (Prague)45 (1966), 109.
Horák Z., Krupka F.: Fyzika. SNTL. Prague 1966, 751.
Horák Z.: Acta Polytechnica (ČVUT Praha) IV (1968), 35.
Horák Z.: Proceed. Third Lunar Internat. Laboratory Symp. (XVIII Int. Astronautical Congress, Belgrade 1967) Ed. F. J. Malina, Pergamon Press, Oxford 1968, 111.
Horák Z.: Abstracts 5th Int. Conference on Gravitation and the Theory of Relativity, Tbilisi 1968, 93.
Hoyle F.: Nature208 (1965), 111.
Horák Z.: Phys. Letters28A (1968), 332.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Horák, Z. Inertia, relativity and cosmology. Czech J Phys 19, 703–720 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01697127
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01697127