Abstract
The Eötvös experiment has been taken as basis for metric theories of gravity and particularly for the general theory of relativity (GTR), which assumes that gravitational and inertial masses are identical. We highlight the fact that, unlike the long lasting and reigning belief, the setup by Eötvös experiments and its follow-ups serve to demonstrate no more than a mere linear proportionality between said masses, and not ineludibly their exclusive equality. So much so that, as one distinct framework, Yarman–Arik–Kholmetskii (YARK) gravitation theory, where a purely metric approach is not aimed, makes the identity between inertial and gravitational masses no longer imperative while still remaining in full conformance with the result of the Eötvös experiment, as well as that of free fall experiments. It is further shown that Eötvös experiment deprives us of any knowledge concerning the determination of the proportionality coefficient coming into play. Henceforward, the Eötvös experiment and its follow-ups cannot be taken as a rigorous foundation for GTR. In this respect, we suggest a crucial test of the equality of gravitational and inertial masses via the comparison of the oscillation periods of two pendulums with different arm lengths, where the deviation of the predictions by GTR and by YARK theory represents a measurable value.
Highlights
It is known that the Einstein equivalence principle sets up an equality of gravitational and inertial masses, and that this represents the necessary condition to describe gravity as the alteration of the geometry of space-time
These facts reinforced the strong belief that the experimental results reporting the equality of gravitational and inertial masses are in full harmony with contemporary presentations about gravity, and further experiments on this subject could rather be aimed for the search of a new kind of interaction
To the contrary to the widespread claim about the equality of the gravitational mass and inertial mass, which is strongly assumed in general theory of relativity (GTR) and extended theories of gravity, is deprived of any reliable experimental evidence
Summary
It is known that the Einstein equivalence principle sets up an equality of gravitational and inertial masses, and that this represents the necessary condition to describe gravity as the alteration of the geometry of space-time. The proportionality choice for the given masses appears to be skipped, because GTR and the extended theories of gravity assume the coefficient of proportionality K to be exactly equal to unity; whereas, any non-metric theories (where K, in general, differs from unity) are blamed to be at odds with experimental facts This situation is drastically shaken with the development of Yarman-Arik-Kholmetskii (YARK) gravitation theory, which implies neither a purely metric theory, nor a purely dynamical theory, but rather combines the properties of both of them. We emphasize that the description of gravity in YARK theory beyond a purely metric approach does not, in general, require the identity of gravitational and inertial masses; it is sufficient to stipulate only the linear proportionality between these mass components (see section 3).
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