Variable Mass Theories of Gravity

Abstract

Several attempts to construct theories of gravity with variable mass are considered. The theoretical impacts of allowing the rest mass to vary with respect to time or an appropriate curve parameter are examined in the framework of Newtonian and Einsteinian gravity theories. In further steps, scalar-tensor theories are examined with respect to their relation to the variation of the mass and in an ultimate step, an additional coordinate is introduced and its possible relation to the mass is examined, yielding a five dimensional space-time-matter theory.