The Equivalence Principle as a Symmetry

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that the Weak Equivalence Principle can be interpreted as a geometric symmetry within 5D induced-matter and membrane theories, linking extra dimensions to inertial mass and providing insights into cosmological and hierarchy issues.

Contribution

It reveals the geometric nature of the Weak Equivalence Principle in 5D theories and explores its implications for fundamental physics problems.

Findings

The extra coordinate relates to inertial mass in certain gauges.

The Weak Equivalence Principle is valid only when test mass is negligible.

Exact solutions suggest new approaches to cosmological-constant and hierarchy problems.

Abstract

It is shown that the extra coordinate of 5D induced-matter and membrane theory is related in certain gauges to the inertial rest mass of a test particle. This implies that the Weak Equivalence Principle is a geometric symmetry, valid only in the limit in which the test mass is negligible compared to the source mass. Exact solutions illustrate this, and show the way to possible resolutions of the cosmological-constant and hierarchy problems.