The Problem of Inertia in Friedmann Universes

Abstract

In this paper we study the origin of inertia in a curved spacetime, particularly the spatially flat, open and closed Friedmann universes. This is done using Sciama's law of inertial induction, which is based on Mach's principle, and expresses the analogy between the retarded far fields of electrodynamics and those of gravitation. After obtaining covariant expressions for electromagnetic fields due to an accelerating point charge in Friedmann models, we adopt Sciama's law to obtain the inertial force on an accelerating mass m by integrating over the contributions from all the matter in the universe. The resulting inertial force has the form F = −kma, where k < 1 depends on the choice of the cosmological parameters such as Ω M , Ω Λ , and Ω R and is also red-shift dependent.

Recent Results of an Investigation of Mach Effect Thrusters

“…Sultana and Kazanas have recently shown that when realistic cosmological parameters (for example, replacing the Hubble sphere with that particle horizon) are used to calculate the value of 2 / c  in Equation (3), one gets 0.23, rather than one. 4 However, when this result is combined with Nordtvedt's, one finds 0.92 for the coefficient of the acceleration in Equation (4), that is, a value, well within observational error, of one. A value of 0.92, with some modest error, is consistent with the cosmic scale spatial flatness that follows from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe analysis, which implies that 1 / 2  c  .…”

Meissner Effect in Classical Physics

“…This was derived by Einstein in his book "The Meaning of Relativity", formula (118) [23], in the linear approximation of general relativity. As the Weber force (1) accounts for electromagnetic inertia, a term coined by Maxwell [24], the corresponding GR force may account for mechanical inertia, which has been applied many times [25][26][27][28].…”

Keeping the Dream Alive: Is Propellant-less Propulsion Possible?

“…For example, Sultana and Kasanas did a calculation assuming all of the features of modern general relativistic cosmology several years ago and got the "right" answer. [9] But there is an even more compelling reason to accept that Mach and Einstein were right about gravitationally induced inertia. As a matter of observation, spacetime is spatially flat.…”