Verification of the Principle of Equivalence for Massive Bodies
Abstract
Analysis of 1389 measurements, accumulated between 1970 and 1974, of echo delays of laser signals transmitted from Earth and reflected from cube corners on the Moon shows gravitational binding energy to contribute equally to Earth's inertial and passive gravitational masses to within the estimated uncertainty of 1.5%. The corresponding restriction on the Eddington-Robertson parameters is 4β-γ-3=-0.001+/-0.015. Combination with other results, as if independent, yields β=1.003+/-0.005 and γ=1.008+/-0.008, in accord with general relativity.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review Letters
- Pub Date:
- March 1976
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.36.555
- Bibcode:
- 1976PhRvL..36..555S
- Keywords:
-
- Earth-Moon System;
- Equivalence;
- Gravitational Fields;
- Relativity;
- Earth (Planet);
- Energy Distribution;
- Laser Range Finders;
- Lunar Rangefinding;
- Lunar Retroreflectors;
- Orbit Perturbation;
- Orbital Elements;
- Planetary Orbits;
- Astrophysics