A surface-layer representation of the lunar gravitational field
Dynamic derivation of surface layer representation of lunar gravitational field from Doppler observations on polar and equatorial lunar orbiters
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Dynamic derivation of surface layer representation of lunar gravitational field from Doppler observations on polar and equatorial lunar orbiters
Relativistic gravity in solar system, predicting Newtonian gravitational constant anisotropy measurements by Cavendish experiments
Experimental tests of gravitation theories - conferences
A hydrogen maser clock is proposed for enclosure in an orbiting satellite to measure the gravitational effect on time scales with high accuracy. This experiment is used to test the principle of equivalence for clocks in space. Extremely narrow linewidth of Fe-57 radiation and absorption due to Mossbauer effect over 75 ft vertical distance was used to confirm the prediction of the equivalence principle to 1 part in 100. The fractional frequency shift of a satellite-borne oscillator observed from earth is also given.
Two perturbations, the earth's quadrupole moment and the earth's revolution around the sun, are discussed. Schiff's proposed gyroscope test of gravitation is analyzed, along with the capability of deciphering each separate contribution to the angular velocity of spin precession.
Direct measurements of the effects of gravitation on time are discussed. Using the earth's gravity these measurements can now be made to 20 parts per million. At present, there is a 1% verification of the equivalence principle for clocks made over a 75-ft vertical distance by use of Mossbauer gamma ray emission and absorption. Measurements made to greater accuracy and spanning distances where appreciable curvature of the metric of spacetime will help verify the equivalence principle, a postulate upon which Einstein developed his General Theory of Relativity.
Two models of the earth's gravitational field have been computed at Goddard Space Flight Center. The first, Goddard Earth Model 1 (GEM 1), has been derived from satellite tracking data. The second, Goddard Earth Model 2 (GEM 2), has been derived from a combination of satellite tracking and surface gravimetric data. The geopotential models are represented in spherical harmonics complete to degree and order 16 for the combined solution and complete to degree and order 12 for the satellite solution. Both solutions include zonal terms to degree 21 and related satellite resonant coefficients to degree 22. The satellite data consisted primarily of optical data processed on 300 weekly orbital arcs for 25 close earth satellites. Surface gravity data were employed in the form of 5 deg x 5 deg mean free-air gravity anomalies providing about 70% world coverage. Station locations were obtained for 46 tracking sites by combining electronic, laser, and additional optical tracking data with the above satellite data. Analysis of the radial positions of these stations and a value of mean gravity on the geoid indicated a mean equatorial radius for the earth of about 6378145 meters. Results of geopotential tests on satellite data not used in the solution show that better agreement was obtained with the GEM 1 and GEM 2 models than with the 1969 Smithsonian Standard Earth 2 model.
This article describes a Lorentz-like transformation between a fixed frame and an inertial frame that is free falling due to the presence of a uniform gravitation field. The application to the clock paradox problem and some connections with similar works are also discussed.
The paper represents the earth's gravitational potential V, outside a sphere bounding the earth, by means of its difference from the author's spheroidal potential. The difference is in turn represented as arising from a surface density on the sphere bounding the earth. Because of the slow decrease with order n of the normalized coefficients in the spherical harmonic expansion of V, the density anomalies from which the higher coefficients arise must occur in regions close to the earth's surface. The surface density is thus an idealization of the product of the density anomaly and the crustal thickness. Values of surface density are computed from potential coefficients obtained from two sources, Rapp and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. The two sources give qualitative agreement for the values of surface density and for its contour map. The numerical values obtained for surface density are compatible with the idea that the responsible density anomalies are reasonably small, i.e., less than 0.05 g/cu cm, and occur in the crust alone.
It is shown that in Dirac's version of the quantum theory of gravitation, the Hamiltonian constraints are greatly redundant. If the Hamiltonian constraint condition is satisfied at one point on the underlying, closed three-dimensional manifold, then it is automatically satisfied at every point, provided only that the momentum constraints are everywhere satisfied. This permits one to replace the usual infinity of Hamiltonian constraints by a single condition which may be taken in the form of an integral over the manifold. Analogous theorems are given for the classical Einstein Hamilton-Jacobi equations.
Finite-difference calculations have been carried out to determine the structure of finite-amplitude thermal convection within a self-gravitating fluid sphere with uniform heat release. For a fixed-surface boundary condition, single-cell convection breaks up into double-cell convection at a Rayleigh number of 30,000, at a Rayleigh number of 500,000 four-cell convection is observed. With a free-surface boundary condition only single cell convection is obtained up to a Rayleigh number of 5,000,000.
The existing work on gravitational effects on electrochemical batteries is summarized, certain conclusions are drawn, and recommendations are made for future activities in this field. The effects of sustained high-G environments on cycle silver-zinc and nickel-cadmium cells have been evaluated over four complete cycles in the region of 10 to 75 G. Although no effects on high current discharge performances or on ampere-hour capacity were noted, severe zinc migration and sloughing of active material from the zinc electrode were observed. This latter effect constitutes real damage, and over a long period of time would result in loss of capacity. It is recommended that a zero-G battery experiment be implemented. Both an orbiting satellite and a sounding rocket approach are being considered.
The constraints placed on models of the interiors of the major planets by the nonspherical components of their gravitational fields are explained, and several methods of determining these nonspherical components are described and evaluated.
A foundation is laid for future analyses of gravitation theories. This foundation is applicable to any theory formulated in terms of geometric objects defined on a 4-dimensional spacetime manifold. The foundation consists of (1) a glossary of fundamental concepts; (2) a theorem that delineates the overlap between Lagrangian-based theories and metric theories; (3) a conjecture (due to Schiff) that the Weak Equivalence Principle implies the Einstein Equivalence Principle; and (4) a plausibility argument supporting this conjecture for the special case of relativistic, Lagrangian-based theories.
Blind fish, during parabolic flight, display a measurable and consistent behavior. The most spectacular new behavioral response is the forward looping of blind fish in or near weightlessness. This response shows no measurable adaptation during the entire period of weightlessness of about 30 sec. During the entrance and exit of weightless parabolas (pushover and pullout) respectively, the fish assumes a forward tilted diving position. Parabolic flight with negative g in the range between 0g and -1g causes similar diving responses of the fish with the only difference being that the dive is directed toward the top of the fish tank. When the response to a g value less than 1g is compared to the response to increased g load on the ground (escape of darting response) an essential difference is seen: higher horizontal acceleration or jerk on the ground causes fish to swim, or even dart, against the direction of inertial force; fish during weightless parabolas move into the direction of the inertial or gravitational force. Since the vestibular system of fish is homologous to that of man, the observed behavior of fish in weightless flight could help to better understand human performance and sensations in comparable situations.
A study is made of the mathematical solution of the differential equation of motion of a test particle in the equatorial plane of the Kerr gravitational field, using S (Schwarzschild-like) coordinates. A qualitative solution of this equation leads to the conclusion that there can only be 25 different types of orbits. For each value of a, the results are presented in a master diagram for which h and e are the parameters. A master diagram divides the h, e parameter space into regions such that at each point within one of these regions the types of admissible orbits are qualitatively the same. A pictorial representation of the physical orbits in the r, phi plane is also given.
The current status and application are described of the biplane video roentgen densitometry, videometry and video digitization systems. These techniques were developed, and continue to be developed for studies of the effects of gravitational and inertial forces on cardiovascular and respiratory dynamics in intact animals and man. Progress is reported in the field of lung dynamics and three-dimensional reconstruction of the dynamic thoracic contents from roentgen video images. It is anticipated that these data will provide added insight into the role of shape and internal spatial relationships (which is altered particularly by acceleration and position of the body) of these organs as an indication of their functional status.
Gravitational radiation in the far field was examined using a formalism that encompassed all metric theories of gravity. There are six possible modes of polarization, which can be completely resolved by feasible experiments. A theoretical framework is set forth for classification of waves and theories, based on the Lorentz transformation properties of the six modes. Also shown in detail is how the six modes may be experimentally identified and to what extent such information limits the correct theory of gravity.