Orbits and rays in the gravitational field of a finite sphere according to the theory of A. N. Whitehead
The relativity theory of A. N. Whitehead permits one to calculate directly the gravitational field of a set of particles of assigned masses and arbitrary motions, and to investigate the orbits of test-particles and the paths of light rays in such a field. In this paper the hypothesis of Whitehead is extended to cover the case of a continuous distribution of matter; the field of a fixed sphere with a spherically symmetric distribution of matter is calculated and orbits and light rays discussed. Explicit formulae are obtained for advance of perihelion, angular velocity in a circular orbit, and deflexion of a light ray. The results differ only slightly from those of Einstein’s general theory of relativity by terms involving the distribution of matter in the sphere, except in the case of the deflexion of light, for which precisely the Einstein formula (depending only on total mass) is obtained.