The Variable Rest Mass Interpretation of Gravitation

Einstein's theory of gravitation is presently interpreted assuming the general invariance of the rest mass of objects. This assumption is shown to be untenable by a straightforward argu ment proving that rest masses are reduced in a gravitational field. Indeed, it is argued that a change in the gravitational potential energy of a body resides in the body itself as a change in rest mass. Several important consequences follow regarding the very nature of the g ravitational interaction - most notably that particles of zero rest mass, such as photons and gravitons, are not directly affected by a gravitational field, although they do respond to the altered geometry associated with the field. In cosmology, the variable rest mass concept enables a reconciliat ion of the observed red shift with the requirement of mo mentu m conservation, which is demanded by the presumed large-scale homogeneity of the universe. These ideas and other developments show that the variable rest mass concept forms the basis for what may fairly be considered to be an important contribution to our understanding of gravitational physics.