2013arXiv (Cornell University)Open access

Einstein's Equivalence Principle and the Gravitational Red Shift II

P. S. Florides

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Abstract

Long before the general theory of relativity was finally formulated in 1916, arguments based entirely on Einstein's equivalence principle predicted the well known phenomenon of the gravitational red shift. Precisely the same arguments are widely being used today to derive the same phenomenon. Accordingly, it is often claimed that the observed gravitational red shift is a verification of the equivalence principle rather than a verification of the full theory of general relativity. Here we show that, contrary to these claims, the arguments based on the equivalence principle are false and that \it{only the full theory of general relativity can correctly and unambiguously predict the gravitational red shift}.

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Long before the general theory of relativity was finally formulated in 1916, arguments based entirely on Einstein's equivalence principle predicted the well known phenomenon of the gravitational red shift. Precisely the same arguments are widely being used today to derive the same phenomenon. Accordingly, it is often claimed that the observed gravitational red shift is a verification of the equivalence principle rather than a verification of the full theory of general relativity. Here we show that, contrary to these claims, the arguments based on the equivalence principle are false and that \it{only the full theory of general relativity can correctly and unambiguously predict the gravitational red shift}.

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Available abstract

Long before the general theory of relativity was finally formulated in 1916, arguments based entirely on Einstein's equivalence principle predicted the well known phenomenon of the gravitational red shift. Precisely the same arguments are widely being used today to derive the same phenomenon. Accordingly, it is often claimed that the observed gravitational red shift is a verification of the equivalence principle rather than a verification of the full theory of general relativity. Here we show that, contrary to these claims, the arguments based on the equivalence principle are false and that \it{only the full theory of general relativity can correctly and unambiguously predict the gravitational red shift}.

Key concepts: Equivalence principle (geometric), General relativity, Einstein, Gravitation, Weak equivalence, Gravity Probe A, Theoretical physics, Theory of relativity

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