An Interpretation of the Laws of Gravity and Inertia

Abstract

The ideas of fixed stars as source of inertia were discuss in physics from Mach onwards. Maxwell-like equations for gravitation and inertia were obtained by several authors as subspecies of the simplified theory of General Relativity. In this regard, Dennis Sciama’s work was a precursor. Through introduction of a four-potential, I derive here a simple tentative interpretation of the laws about gravity and inertia in complete analogy with electromagnetism. A four-potential is usually not introduced in classical mechanics. As it is shown here, the field produced by this four-potential describes both gravitational and inertial forces. The physical presence of this field associated with this four-potential seems to be a fact even more concrete the usual admission of inertial "fictitious forces".