3 Comments
User's avatar
thinking-turtle's avatar

"If you double the mass of all stars in all galaxies, you should decrease by two the free fall acceleration." What a mind binder! Perhaps they mean that if the weight of the Earth decreases compared to that of the rest of the universe, the earth's gravity would have a weaker effect.

Expand full comment
John Plaice's avatar

The idea is that for the Machian perspective, doubling the mass of the remainder of the universe, and halving the mass of the earth, would each halve the terrestrial acceleration. However, for the Newtonian perspective, halving the mass of the earth would halve the terrestrial acceleration, but doubling the mass of the remainder of the universe would have no effect.

Expand full comment
thinking-turtle's avatar

Newton would say those forces cancel out. Still trying to get a grip on Mach's position.

Expand full comment