Einstein's
Theory of Relativity
versus
Classical Mechanics
by Paul Marmet
Chapter Five
Calculation of the Advance
of the Perihelion of Mercury.
5.1 - Mathematical
Transformation
of Units between Frames.
In this
chapter
we will deal with two kinds of transformations. The first kind is a
mathematical
transformation of units which brings no physical change to the
quantities
being described. In such a transformation, there is no physics, just
mathematics.
For example, let us suppose that we measure a rod on Mercury and find
that
it is 100 times longer than the local Mercury meter. Then we say that
the
length of the rod is 100 Mercury meters. However, if we know that on
Mercury,
the local meter is 1% longer than the local reference meter in outer
space,
we know that the same rod is actually equal to 101 times the outer
space
reference meter. These two descriptions by units of different frames
are
perfectly identical. The rod has not changed.
The observer
on Mercury can also use his clock to measure a time interval. If the
Mercury
observer measures 100 units on his clock (i.e. 100 Mercury seconds),
knowing
that clocks on Mercury run at a rate which is 1% slower than clocks in
outer space, we can calculate that during that absolute time interval
the
difference of clock displays on a clock in outer space will be 101
outer
space units. No physics is involved in that transformation, only
mathematics.
The same physical phenomenon is described using different units.
Other units
must also be transformed. For example, the absolute mass of the Sun
does
not change because we observe it from Mercury location near the Sun.
However,
measuring the same solar mass using the smaller Mercury unit of mass
will
lead to a larger number of Mercury units. Similarly, the physical
amplitude
of the absolute gravitational constant G does not change because the
phenomenon
takes place near the Sun. We have seen in chapter four that the
absolute
constant G is represented by different numbers of Mercury and outer
space
units. Again, no physics is involved.
5.1.1 - Consequence of a
Simple
Change of Units.
Let us
suppose
that using Newton's relationships, we want to calculate the period of
Mercury
using Mercury units. We must then compare this answer with the one
obtained
with the same relationships using outer space units. If we do so, we
find
that the numbers of units found for the period are different. However,
when we take into account that the Mercury clock runs at a slower rate,
we see that the absolute times obtained from either frame are the same.
In the next
section we will see that in order to be compatible with the principle
of
mass-energy conservation, one must add another kind of transformations
which are physical transformations. Contrary to the identical
consequences
resulting from the mathematical transformation explained above,
different
absolute results are found when Newton's laws are applied with the
proper
values belonging to different frames.
5.2 - Physical
Transformations
Due to Mass-Energy Conservation.
The second
kind of transformations consists of real physical changes. We have seen
in chapters one and three that when an object in outer space is moved
to
Mercury location, its absolute mass changes because of the change of
gravitational
potential and kinetic energies. (In the case of gravitational energy,
the
difference of mass is transformed into work). The object that remains
at
Mercury location is physically different from the object that existed
in
outer space because the dimensions of its atoms, their mass and clock
rate
have changed. This physical change of mass is quite different from the
mathematical change of units mentioned above.
Here is an
example. An observer on Mercury measures that a mass on his frame is
100
times larger that the unit of mass on Mercury. Another observer in
outer
space measures the mass of the same object after it has been carried
out
to outer space. In that new frame, the outer space observer finds the
same
number (100) of new units of mass. Both observers measure 100 local
kilograms. However, the absolute mass of this object has changed when
moved
from Mercury location to outer space. The Mercury kilogram is not equal
to the outer space kilogram. To realize this, we need to know the mass
at Mercury location using outer space units. Applying the principle of
mass-energy conservation, we find that using the same outer space
units,
the mass of the object is reduced to only 99 outer space kilograms when
brought to Mercury location (since the Mercury kilogram is 1% lighter
than
the outer space kilogram). This is a real physical change. It is not a
simple mathematical transformation of units like the one explained in
section
5.1.
We will see
in section 5.3 that these physical changes lead to results that are
physically
different when calculated using proper values in different frames.
Using
Newton's classical mechanics, we will find that the results obtained
using
the proper parameters in one frame are not coherent with the results
obtained
using parameters proper to another frame.
In order to
clarify this description, in this chapter we will use the expression transformation
of
units to designate only a pure mathematical transformation
of
units. When a physical change is involved as a consequence of
mass-energy
conservation, we will speak of a transformation of parameters.
We consider
that the interactions between physical elements (like fields, masses,
lengths
and clock rates) existing on Mercury, using Mercury parameters, must be
the same as the ones that we calculate in outer space using outer space
parameters. This means that the mathematical relationships so
well-known
in physics are the only ones that are valid but it is required that on
Mercury we use the physical quantities (mass, length and clock rate)
existing
on Mercury while in outer space, we use the physical quantities (which
are different) existing in outer space. In other words, we must always
use proper values. It is totally illogical to use outer
space
physical parameters at Mercury location. On Mercury, we must
necessarily
use physical parameters that exist on Mercury.
5.3 - Incoherence between
Outer
Space and Mercury Predictions Using Newton's Physics.
In this
book,
we use Newton's equations which are always perfectly valid in all
frames.
However, there is a difference between Newton's equations and Newton's
physics. Newton's physics is different from the physics described in
this
book because it is not compatible with the principle of mass-energy
conservation.
In Newton's physics, there is no place for changes of mass, length and
clock rate. According to that physics, the mass of an object in outer
space
does not change if it is transported to Mercury location or to anywhere
in the universe.
Let us
suppose
a Newtonian observer wants to measure the period of Mercury. He wishes
to know its mass. To do this, he imagines the following thought
experiment.
He takes Mercury out of its orbit to outer space and puts the planet on
a balance to measure its mass. Then he puts Mercury back on its orbit.
Being a Newtonian observer using Newton's physics, the mass he will use
in his calculations of Mercury's period will be the mass he just
measured
in outer space. However, we know this mass is wrong because of
mass-energy
conservation. We also know that other parameters (like length and clock
rate) at Mercury location are modified due to the change of mass.
Therefore
this observer's Newtonian calculation of the orbit of Mercury will be
wrong
even when he uses the correct equations.
We will see
that when the orbit of a planet moving around the Sun is calculated,
using
outer space physical parameters, we find a perfect ellipse. However,
when
we use the proper parameters existing on Mercury, we find a different
orbit
which is a precessing ellipse. This explains the advance of the
perihelion
of Mercury. When neglecting the changes of mass, length and clock rate
on Mercury with respect to outer space, we find an erroneous prediction
because we use outer space physical parameters instead of proper
parameters.
5.4 - Incoherence of the
Gravitational
Force Using Newton's Physics.
Let us give
an example that shows that the calculated force of gravity is different
depending on what the physical parameters are used (outer space or
Mercury).
For the Newtonian observer, the gravitational force is:
 |
5.1 |
For that
observer,
whether the subscript of M(M) is o.s. or M makes no difference.
We write o.s. because this observer uses Newton’s physics which always
assumes a constant mass. The relevant physical parameters at Mercury
location
are:
 |
5.2 |
All physical
parameters
in equation 5.2 must be Mercury physical parameters because that is
where
the interaction takes place. We will now compare these two equations.
We
know that the number of Mercury units to measure the mass of Mercury at
Mercury location is the same as the number of outer space units to
measure
the mass of Mercury in outer space. This gives:
| M(M)M(M)
= M(M)o.s.(o.s.) |
5.3 |
The
relationship
between the number of units of mass of the Sun in outer space and
Mercury
units is given by equation 4.43:
 |
5.4 |
The
relationship
between the numbers of meters to measure the distance of Mercury from
the
Sun in outer space and Mercury units can be deduced from equation 4.34:
 |
5.5 |
Finally, the
corresponding
relationship for the gravitational constant G is given by equation 4.65:
 |
5.6 |
Equations
5.3,
5.4, 5.5 and 5.6 in 5.2 give:
 |
5.7 |
In order to
compare
the gravitational force calculated using Mercury units, with the force
calculated using outer space units, let us transform the number of
units
of force FG(M) into the corresponding number of outer space
units. From equation 4.70, we have:
 |
5.8 |
Equation 5.7
with
5.8 gives:
 |
5.9 |
We must notice
that
equation 5.9 does not corresponds to a simple transformation of units.
The physical parameters existing on Mercury at Mercury location have
been
taken into account.
Using the
physical parameters existing on Mercury and outer space units, equation
5.9 shows that the absolute gravitational force on Mercury is different
from the one calculated using the physical parameters existing in outer
space and given in equation 5.1. The two results are not compatible.
They
predict different orbits. As explained above, the logical choice
requires
that we choose the equation obtained using the proper physical
parameters
existing at the location where the interaction of Mercury takes place
with
the gravitational field. We must reject the calculation obtained using
outer space parameters when the experiment is taking place on Mercury.
Finally, we now realize that equations 5.1 is the limit of equations
5.9
when RM®¥.
There is
another
direct consequence of mass-energy conservation. Contrary to equation
5.1,
we see in equation 5.9 that using the physical parameters existing on
Mercury,
the decrease of the gravitational force is no longer perfectly
quadratic.
We will see in chapter six that in classical mechanics the orbits of an
object submitted to a non quadratic gravitational force must have a
precession.
5.5 - Relevant Physical
Parameters.
Let us
assume
that an object on Mercury has a length of 100 Mercury meters. This
means
that independently of the units used to describe it, this is the
relevant
physical length. If we find that the meter on Mercury is 1% longer that
the outer space meter, that length will be represented by 101 outer
space
meters. However, a Newtonian observer in outer space would predict 100
outer space meters from his own (incorrect) calculation.
In the case
of time, if the Mercury observer measures that a phenomenon lasts 100
Mercury
seconds, this means that the outer space observer measuring the same
time
interval on his clock (that runs 1% faster) will measure 101 outer
space
seconds. For the outer space observer, this means that the physics
taking
place on Mercury is such that the phenomenon takes place more slowly.
We
must remember that this is not a simple transformation of mathematical
units. The difference is due to the slowing down of the processes on
Mercury
in order to maintain the internal coherence within the Mercury frame.
One
must recall that if the phenomenon takes place in outer space, the
outer
space observer will also measure 100 of his seconds which are different
from 100 Mercury seconds. However, since the phenomenon is taking place
on Mercury, it takes one extra outer space second before being
completed.
If one could
observe a physical phenomenon from outer space taking place in a very
deep
gravitational potential, one would see that objects are bigger and
react
more slowly. Furthermore if the outer space observer calculates quite
independently
the phenomena taking place on Mercury using outer space parameters, he
would find that the observations reveal that everything functions at an
unexpected slower rate with respect to his frame since the physics at
Mercury
location must be compatible with Newton's laws when using proper
physical
parameters.
5.6 - Fundamental
Phenomena
Responsible for the Advance of the Perihelion of Mercury.
This section
is very important to understand the phenomena responsible for the
advance
of the perihelion of Mercury. Let us consider that the orbit calculated
by the Mercury observer has a length equal to 1000 kilometers as
determined
with Newton's equations using proper parameters on Mercury. Of course,
an observer located in outer space, also using Newton's equations and
proper
values existing in outer space will calculate that the length of the
orbit
is 1000 outer space kilometers.
Using
mass-energy
conservation, let us assume that due to a different gravitational
potential,
the unit meter on Mercury is 1% longer than the unit meter in outer
space.
Consequently, in order to be coherent, we calculate that clocks in
outer
space will run at a rate which is 1% faster than the rate on Mercury.
From the
above
information, let us calculate the clock display measured on the outer
space
clock DCD(o.s.) while Mercury travels the
distance
of 1000 kmM. Since the distance traveled is 1000 kmM,
equation
4.34
shows
that
due to the longer Mercury meter, the outer
space
observer will measure 1010 kmo.s.. The circumference of the
orbit is:
| Circ[M]
= 1000 kmM = 1010 kmo.s. |
5.10 |
This first
correction
on lengths ignores that while Mercury travels 1010 kmo.s.
the
clock in outer space runs 1% faster that the clock on Mercury. Since we
must refer to the parameters existing on Mercury where the phenomenon
takes
place, the DCD on the outer space clock
must
be increased by one per cent with respect to the Mercury clock because
of the faster rate of that outer space clock. Consequently, there is an
increase of 1% of length to be traveled because the real length is 1010
kmo.s. plus another increase of 1% on the outer space clock
because of its faster rate.
Consequently,
in order to respect the physical laws existing on Mercury where the
interaction
with the gravitational potential takes place, we see that we must take
into account two phenomena slowing down the completion of the ellipse
in
the frame where Mercury interacts with the gravitational potential. One
is due to the increase of length of the Mercury meter and the second is
due to the slowing down of the physical mechanisms on Mercury. We will
calculate these two quantities in detail in the next sections of this
chapter.
Let us note
that in the above description, we have seen that the exact distance
1000
kmM (or 1010 kmo.s.) originally planned has been
traveled as expected. However, we might calculate that the DCD(M)
expected from calculations is different from the one measured. This is
because not only Mercury, but also the clock has changed location (at a
certain velocity) between the first and the last readings. This leads
to
a drift in the synchronization of the moving clock as explained clearly
in sections 9.4, 9.5 and 9.6. The reading of chapter nine is necessary
to complete the explanation on the loss of clock synchronization of
moving
clocks.
5.7 - Change of Length
from
Outer Space to Mercury Location.
We have seen
that the relevant parameters responsible for the physical interaction
with
the solar gravitational field are the ones at Mercury location even
though
the final results are observed by the outer space observer. Let us
calculate
the physical length observed in outer space corresponding to the length
calculated using Mercury parameters where the interaction takes place.
There are two physical phenomena that make the Mercury meter longer
than
the outer space meter. The first one is due to the gravitational
potential
as explained in chapter one. The second phenomena is due to the
velocity
of Mercury on its orbit as calculated in chapter three.
Let aM(o.s.)
and
aM(M) be the numbers representing the semi-major axis of
Mercury. Using equation 4.34, we get the relationship:
 |
5.11 |
Let us call lM(o.s.)
the
number
of
outer
space meters for the length of Mercury's elliptical
orbit and lM(M) the number of Mercury meters for the
length of the same elliptical orbit. For a small eccentricity, lM(o.s.)
is
about
2paM(o.s.) and lM(M)
is
about
2paM(M). The
eccentricity
will be taken into account in section 5.10. We have from equation 5.11:
 |
5.12 |
We see in
equation
5.12 that the number of meters measured by the observer in outer space
for the length of the elliptical orbit is larger than the number of
meters
measured by the Mercury observer because the outer space meter is
shorter.
Mercury is
not only located in a gravitational potential, it also has a velocity.
Because of this velocity v, there is a difference between the length of
the moving meter and the length of the meter at rest, both at Mercury
distance
from the Sun (see equation 3.23). The moving Mercury meter is also the
one that is relevant here since it is the one involved in the physics
taking
place on Mercury. The rest meter being shorter, the number of rest
meters
needed to describe the length of the orbit will be larger than the
number
of moving Mercury meters.
Let us call
Nv the number of moving meters and No the number
of rest meters to measure the Mercury orbit. Similarly to equations
4.30,
4.31 and 4.32, the absolute length L[rest] of the Mercury orbit is:
| L[rest]
= No meter[rest] = Nv meter[mov] |
5.13 |
where
meter[rest]
and meter[mov] represent respectively the length of a meter at rest and
the length of a meter in motion. In equation 5.13, the absolute
physical
length L[rest] of the Mercury orbit does not change because we measure
it with smaller meters at rest. Using equations 5.13 and 3.41 we have:
 |
5.14 |
which is:
 |
5.15 |
Using the
first
term of a series expansion gives:
 |
5.16 |
In order to
calculate
the velocity of Mercury on its orbit, let us use a well-known
relationship
in classical mechanics. The centrifugal force (C.F.) on a moving mass M(M)
(Mercury)
at
a
distance
RM from the
center
of translation is equal to:
 |
5.17 |
In
the
case of a stable orbit around the Sun, the gravitational force F(grav)
is equal to the centrifugal force. This gives:
 |
5.18 |
and
 |
5.19 |
Putting
equation
5.19 in 5.16 gives:
 |
5.20 |
Equation
5.20
shows that the number of rest meters is larger than the number of
moving
meters.
Equation
5.12
gives the relative increase of the number of outer space meters with
respect
to the number of Mercury meters due to mass-energy conservation in the
static gravitational potential of the Sun. Equation 5.20 gives another
relative increase of the number of meters at rest with respect to the
number
of moving meters as explained in chapter three. From these two causes,
the total relative number lo.s.,o of outer space
meters
at rest with respect to the moving Mercury meters is given by the
product
of equations 5.12 and 5.20. This gives:
 |
5.21 |
The first
term
of a series expansion gives:
  |
5.22 |
which gives the total increase of distance in outer
space
units following the calculation of the length of the orbit using
Mercury
parameters, located in a gravitational potential at velocity v.
5.8 - Change of Clock Rate
from
Outer Space to Mercury Location.
There are
two independent phenomena that slow down the clocks on Mercury's orbit.
One is due to its gravitational potential, the other is due to its
velocity.
On the Mercury clock, during the period required to complete one full
revolution,
the difference of clock displays called DCDM(M)
is smaller than the difference of clock displays DCDM(o.s.)
in
outer
space
since
the physical mechanisms and clocks in outer space
run at a faster rate. Let us calculate DCDM(o.s.)
with respect to DCDM(M)
during the same absolute time interval. From equation 4.49 we have:
 |
5.23 |
Let us now
study
the effect of velocity on clock rates. We have seen that due to
mass-energy
conservation, moving clocks are slower than clocks at rest. Using
equation
3.10, we find:
 |
5.24 |
where:
 |
5.25 |
DCDv is the difference of clock displays on a clock
having
a velocity v and DCDo is the
corresponding
difference of clock displays on a clock at rest (both clocks at the
same
distance from the Sun). Equations 5.24 and 5.25 give:
 |
5.26 |
Since v/c is
very
small with respect to unity, we consider the first term of a series
expansion
of equation 5.26. We get:
 |
5.27 |
or again,
 |
5.28 |
Equation
5.19
in 5.28 gives:
 |
5.29 |
The clock
moving
with Mercury is the one submitted to the interaction between the planet
and the solar gravitational field. From equation 5.29, we see that the
moving clock on Mercury runs more slowly than the clock at rest (at a
constant
distance from the Sun). Consequently, as explained above, the physical
mechanism taking place at Mercury location is slower.
We have seen
in equation 5.23 that clocks (and therefore the absolute physical
mechanisms)
slow down on Mercury as a consequence of the gravitational potential at
that location. Equation 5.29 also shows a slowing down of the clocks
due
to the velocity of Mercury on its orbit. Let us calculate the total
slowing
down of clocks on Mercury due to both the gravitational potential and
the
velocity of Mercury on its orbit. The total difference of clock
displays
DCDM,v
on moving Mercury with respect to the difference of clock displays DCDo.s.,o
in outer space (at rest) is obtained using equations 5.23 and 5.29. We
get:
 |
5.30 |
The first
order
gives:
 |
5.31 |
5.9 - Total Interaction Due
to
the Physical Changes of Length and Clock Rate.
We have seen
in sections 5.7 and 5.8 how the changes of length and clock rate modify
the period of translation of Mercury around the Sun. The first
phenomenon
given by equation 5.22 gives the relative length of the orbit as
measured
in outer space when the phenomenon is calculated using the parameters
existing
on Mercury where the interaction with the gravitational field of the
Sun
takes place. The circumference of the orbit lM,v
using Mercury parameters corresponds to a longer length of the orbit as
measured using outer space parameters. Therefore, the outer space
observer
will measure more than a full circumference using his own outer space
units.
Furthermore, we have seen in equation 5.31 that in order to be
compatible
with mass-energy conservation, clock rates and physical mechanisms
taking
place on Mercury must be slower than the ones measured in outer space.
Consequently, it will take a larger number of seconds on the outer
space
clock to complete the circumference than on the Mercury clock.
Each
phenomenon
makes an independent contribution to modify lengths and clock rates on
moving Mercury with respect to the ones at rest in outer space.
Consequently
both phenomena will contribute to the larger number of units for the
period
of Mercury as measured by an outer space observer.
Let us call
Pl,DCD the period of the
orbit
of Mercury taking into account the combined effects of the change of
length
and the change of clock rate. In Pl,DCD(M,mov),
"M,mov" is in round parentheses since Pl,DCD
is a pure number without units. Then Pl,DCD(M,mov)
is the number of Mercury units for completing the ellipse
measured
with a clock moving at velocity v at Mercury location and Pl,DCD(o.s.,rest)
is the number of outer space units to complete the period of
the
ellipse measured with a clock in outer space having zero velocity. For
clarity, we have dropped the subscript M indicating the location of the
planet since we consider Mercury at its normal position in the Sun's
gravitational
field.
Let us add
the contribution of the two phenomena described above. The correction
on
the period will be the product of the contributions given by equations
5.22 and 5.31. This gives:
 |
5.32 |
 |
5.33 |
 |
5.34 |
The first
order
gives:
 |
5.35 |
Equation
5.35
shows that the number of units for the total period of
Mercury
is larger when measured using outer space units. Let us transform this
result to calculate the relative increase of the period of Mercury as
recorded
by an observer using an outer space clock and an outer space meter. We
find that the relative increase is given by the derivative of equation
5.35. This gives:
 |
5.36 |
Equation
5.36
shows that when Mercury has completed its full elliptical orbit, the
observer
using an outer space clock will monitor a period of translation larger
by 3GM(S)/c2RM times Pl,DCD
(M,mov).
Before
completing
this section, we must notice that following Newton's law, the advance
of
the perihelion of Mercury given by equation 5.36 can be written in a
more
simple form. Let us consider the gravitational potential "Pot" as a
function
of the distance RM from the Sun. Contrary to the definition
of potential in electricity, in mechanics the potential is defined as
the
energy. Let us consider the energy per unit of mass. Using Newton's law
of gravitation, we see that this ratio (which corresponds to the
concept
of potential in electricity) is independent of the mass of Mercury.
Writing
differently Newton's law we find that the gravitational potential is:
 |
5.37 |
Combining
5.36
with 5.37, we get:
 |
5.38 |
Equation
5.38
shows that the total advance of the perihelion of Mercury depends only
on the constant 3/c2 times the change
of
gravitational energy per unit of mass. Equation 5.38 takes into account
both the gravitational potential and the velocity of Mercury.
5.10 - Correction for an
Elliptical
Orbit.
There is one
more term that needs to be taken into account to get a better accuracy.
We know that Mercury travels on an elliptical orbit. However, in our
calculation
we have always considered the distance of Mercury from the Sun (RM)
as a constant. In an elliptical motion, the distance from the Sun is
not
constant but varies according to a relationship characteristic of an
ellipse.
From geometrical considerations, it is demonstrated [1]
that the distance RM of the orbiting body (Mercury) from the
occupied focus (where the Sun is located) of an ellipse is given by the
relationship:
 |
5.39 |
where a is
the
length of the semi-major axis, e is the eccentricity of the ellipse and
q
is the angle between the value of the perihelion minus the argument of
the perihelion. From equation 5.39, we see that when the eccentricity e
is equal to zero, the distance of the orbiting planet to its center of
translation is equal to a constant "a". Therefore equation 5.36 is
valid
when the eccentricity of the orbit of the planet is zero (or
negligible).
This is not the case for Mercury for which the eccentricity is e =
0.2056.
The orbiting
body is sometimes at a closer distance from the Sun where the
gravitational
potential is larger. At those times, the velocity of the planet is
larger.
Of course, there are other parts of the orbit where the planet moves
more
slowly in a shallower gravitational potential. However, we can see that
the smaller gravitational potential does not compensate completely for
the larger one. The eccentricity must be taken into account. The clock
rate and the unit of length must be taken into account at every point
of
the elliptical orbit. We have calculated above that the change of
gravitational
potential and of velocity produce an average effect represented
mathematically
by an "effective potential" Pot/M(M) in equation 5.38. Combining
equations 5.39 and 5.37 we find:
 |
5.40 |
Equation
5.40
shows that the potential per unit of mass is not constant during an
elliptical
orbit (contrary to a circular orbit). Therefore the advance of the
perihelion
of Mercury after a full translation depends on the integral of that
potential
(Pot/M(M)) over a full translation of Mercury around the Sun.
This
integral gives the average equivalent gravitational potential during a
full elliptical orbit. It is equal to 1/2p
of
the integral of the angle q over 2p.
Using equation 5.40, we get:
 |
5.41 |
This gives:
 |
5.42 |
The average
gravitational
potential obtained when the eccentricity eM
for Mercury is:
 |
5.43 |
The average
of
Pot/M(M) gives the correction to Mercury's elliptical orbit with
respect to a circular orbit. In order to apply that correction, let us
substitute the equivalent potential of Mercury by the average potential
given by equation 5.43. Equation 5.43 into 5.38 gives:
 |
5.44 |
Equation
5.44
shows that an outer space clock takes an extra fraction of a
circumference
to complete the ellipse when corrections include ellipticity. This
extra
fraction of a circumference D(circ) per
unit
circumference is:
 |
5.45 |
Equation
5.45
is usually presented in radians instead of a fraction of a
circumference.
If the advance of the perihelion is represented by the angle Df,
equation 5.45 becomes 2p times larger and
gives:
 |
5.46 |
Equation
5.46
is the final equation for the advance of the perihelion of Mercury in
radians
per translation of Mercury as calculated using classical mechanics and
mass-energy conservation.
5.11 - Mathematical
Identity
with Einstein's Equation.
Einstein
presented
a mathematical relationship for the advance of the perihelion of
Mercury.
Many books report that result. Straumann's [2]
equations 3.1.11 and 3.3.7 give:
 |
5.47 |
This
equation
is perfectly identical to our equation 5.46. Consequently, all the
physical
principles that have been used to find equation 5.46 are sufficient
since
we get a prediction identical to the experimental observations and
Einstein's
equation. We add that the experimental value for the advance of the
perihelion
of Mercury has been well-known for more than a century. Le Verrier's
calculations
of the observational data found such an advance as early as 1859 [3].
Roseveare published a very interesting historical account of reliable
observations
and calculations of Mercury's perihelion [4].
5.12 - References.
[1] Kenneth R. Lang, Astrophysical
Formulae, Springer-Verlag, ISBN 3-540-09933-6. second corrected
and enlarged edition, p. 541, 1980.
[2] Norbert Straumann, General
Relativity
and
Relativistic
Astrophysics, Springler-Verlag,
second
printing, 1991.
[3] U. J. J. Le Verrier, Théorie
du
mouvement
de
Mercure, Ann. Observ. imp. Paris
(Mémoires)
5, p. 1 to 196, 1859.
[4] N. T. Roseveare, Mercury's
Perihelion
from
Le
Verrier
to Einstein, Clarendon Press,
Oxford,
208 p. 1982.
5.13 - Symbols and
Variables
| aM(M) |
number of Mercury meters for the semi-major
axis |
| aM(o.s.) |
number of outer space meters for the
semi-major axis |
| DCDM(M) |
DCD for the period
of Mercury
measured by a Mercury clock |
| DCDM(o.s.) |
DCD for the period
of Mercury
measured by an outer space clock |
| DCDM,v |
DCD for the period
of Mercury
measured by a moving Mercury clock |
| DCDo.s.,o |
DCD for the period
of Mercury
measured by an outer space clock at rest |
| DCDo |
DCD for the period
of Mercury
on a clock at rest |
| DCDv |
DCD for the period
of Mercury
on a clock in motion |
| DPl,DCD(o.s.,rest) |
relative increase of the number of absolute
seconds for
the period of Mercury |
| Df |
advance of the perihelion of Mercury in
radians |
| FG(M) |
number of Mercury newtons for the
gravitational force
on Mercury |
| FG(o.s.) |
number of outer space newtons for the
gravitational force
on Mercury |
| G(M) |
number of Mercury units for the gravitational
constant |
| G(o.s.) |
number of outer space units for the
gravitational constant |
| kmframe |
length of the local kilometer in a frame |
| lM(M) |
number of Mercury meters for the orbit of
Mercury |
| lM(o.s.) |
number of outer space meters for the orbit of
Mercury |
| lM,v |
number of Mercury moving meters for the orbit
of Mercury |
| lo.s.,o |
number of outer space rest meters for the
orbit of Mercury |
| L[rest] |
length of the orbit of Mercury in rest units |
| meter[frame] |
length of the local meter in a frame |
| M(M)M(M) |
number of Mercury kilograms for Mercury at
Mercury location |
| M(M)o.s.(o.s.) |
number of outer space kilograms for Mercury
in outer
space |
| M(S)(M) |
number of Mercury units for the mass of the
Sun |
| M(S)(o.s.) |
number of outer space units for the mass of
the Sun |
| No |
number of rest meters for the orbit of Mercury |
| Nv |
number of moving meters for the orbit of
Mercury |
| Pl,DCD(o.s.,rest) |
number of outer space (rest) seconds for the
period of
Mercury taking into account the gravitational potential and the
velocity
of Mercury |
| Pl,DCD(M,mov) |
number of Mercury (motion) seconds for the
period of
Mercury taking into account the gravitational potential and the
velocity
of Mercury |
| RM(M) |
distance of Mercury from the Sun in Mercury
units |
| RM(o.s.) |
distance of Mercury from the Sun in outer
space units |
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