mach's principle

English - English

Definition of mach's principle in English English dictionary

the principle that the inertia of a body arises from its relation to the totality of all other bodies in the universe

Hypothesis that the inertial forces acting on a body in accelerated motion are determined by the quantity and distribution of matter in the universe. Albert Einstein found its suggested connection between geometry and matter helpful in formulating his theory of general relativity; unaware that George Berkeley had proposed similar views in the 18th century, he attributed the idea to Ernst Mach. He abandoned the principle when he realized that inertia is assumed in the geodesic equation of motion (see geodesy) and need not depend on the existence of matter elsewhere in the universe

Hyphenation

mach's Prin·ci·ple