What is (not) wrong with scalar gravity?
Abstract
On his way to General Relativity, Einstein gave several arguments as to why a special-relativistic theory of gravity based on a massless scalar field could be ruled out merely on grounds of theoretical considerations. We re-investigate his two main arguments, which relate to energy conservation and some form of the principle of the universality of free fall. We find such a theory-based a priori abandonment not to be justified. Rather, the theory seems formally perfectly viable, though in clear contradiction with (later) experiments.
Details
- Externe Organisation(en)
-
Max-Planck-Institut für Gravitationsphysik (Albert-Einstein-Institut)
- Typ
- Artikel
- Journal
- Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B - Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics
- Band
- 39
- Seiten
- 154-180
- Anzahl der Seiten
- 27
- ISSN
- 1355-2198
- Publikationsdatum
- 01.2008
- Publikationsstatus
- Veröffentlicht
- Peer-reviewed
- Ja
- ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete
- Verlauf, Allgemeine Physik und Astronomie, Wissenschaftsgeschichte und -philosophie
- Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung
- SDG 7 - Erschwingliche und saubere Energie
- Elektronische Version(en)
-
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsb.2007.09.001 (Zugang:
Offen
)
