On the Machian origin of inertia

Abstract

We examine Sciama’s inertia theory: we generalise it, by combining rotation and expansion in one unique model, we find the angular speed of the Universe, and we stress that the theory is zero-total-energy valued. We compare with other theories of the same null energy background.

We determine the numerical value of a constant which appears in the Machian inertial force expression devised by Graneau and Graneau (In the Grip of the Distant Universe—the Science of Inertia, World Scientific, Singapore, 2006), by introducing the above angular speed. We point out that this last theory is not restricted to Newtonian physics as those authors stated but is, in fact, compatible with other cosmological and gravitational theories. An argument by Berry (Principles of Cosmology and Gravitation, Adam Hilger, Bristol, 1989) is shown in order to “derive” Brans-Dicke relation in the present context.