The Special Relativistic Equivalence Principle: Gravity Theory’s Foundation

Einstein’s Equivalence Principle asserts that physical phenomena occuring in a laboratory which undergoes constant acceleration through gravity-free inertial space should be identical in all respects to that which occurs in local gravity. By incorporating special relativity theory into an extended version of the Equivalence Principle — the Special Relativistic Equivalence Principle (SREP) — post-Newtonian gravitational phenomena in addition to that originally predicted by Einstein are required (predicted) such as geodetic precession of local inertial frames which move non-radially in gravitational free fall, precession of Mercury’s perihelion, and gravitomagnetic precession of inertial frames and forces between pairs of mutually moving masses. This poses the historical question — why were not these phenomena predicted by Einstein in the years 1907-1911? In addition to the predicted precessions, the unique 1/c order dynamical equations for clock rates and motion of both bodies and light in local gravity, are derived which guarantee fulfillment of the SREP.