Abstract

One can ask how it was possible for Lorentz's simple and elegant theory of gravity to be passed over and for Einstein's wacky theory of gravity to be accepted. We examine a bit of this puzzle by looking at two papers published in 1905 and 1906 that specifically address Lorentz' theory. The first paper by R. Gans examines the theoretical implications for a number of issues including the relationship between inertial and gravitational mass. The second paper by F. Wacker (a student of Gans) explores, among other things, the advance of the perihelion of Mercury after including a term for a mass increase with velocity through the ether. We look specifically for criticisms which might demonstrate fatal flaws in Lorentz' theory.