Einstein's equations of motion in the gravitational field of an oblate spheroidal body

Abstract

In an earlier paper we derived Einstein's geometrical gravitational field equations for the metric tensor due to an oblate spheroidal massive body. In this paper we derive the corresponding Einstein's equations of motion for a test particle of nonzero rest mass in the gravitational field exterior to a homogeneous oblate spheroidal massive body, expressed in oblate spheroidal coordinates convenient for mathematical investigation and hence physical interpretation and experimental investigation for bodies in the solar system.



Journal of the Nigerian Association of Mathematical Physics Vol. 8 2004: pp. 269-272