Relativity
The Special and General Theory
XXIX
The Solution of the Problem of Gravitation on the Basis of the General Principle of Relativity
IF the reader has followed all our previous considerations, he will have no further difficulty in understanding the methods leading to the solution of the problem of gravitation.
We start off on a consideration of a Galilean domain, i.e. a domain in which there is no gravitational field relative to the Galilean reference-body K. The behavior of measuring-rods and clocks with reference to K is known from the special theory of relativity, likewise the behavior of "isolated" material points; the latter move uniformly and in straight lines.
Now let us refer this domain to a random Gauss coordinate system or to a "mollusc" as reference-body K'. Then with respect to K' there is a gravitational field G (of a particular kind). We learn the behavior of measuring-rods and clocks and also of freely-moving material points with reference to K' simply by mathematical transformation. We interpret this behavior as the behavior of measuring-rods, docks and material points under the influence of the gravitational field G. Hereupon we introduce a hypothesis: that the influence of the gravitational field on measuring-rods,
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