On the Origin of Inertial Force
C. Johan Masreliez
Keywords: inertial mass, gravitational mass, Minkowskian line element
According to general relativity inertial mass and gravitational mass are equivalent. Therefore, inertial acceleration might, like gravitational acceleration, be associated with changing metrical coefficients in the line element of general relativity. This possibility is investigated. If a cosmological reference frame exists, the Minkowskian line element may be modified by a velocity dependent scale factor for which all accelerating motion becomes motion on spacetime geodesics. This might model inertia as a gravitational-type phenomenon.
