equivalence of inertial mass and gravitational mass

h56234_at_yahoo.com
Date: 12/26/04 

Date: 26 Dec 2004 09:31:54 -0800

Hi.
I am told that in Newtonian physics the equivalence of inertial mass
and gravitational mass is only coincidental. I am having a hard time
understanding this distinction being made between the two types of
masses. A little thought experiment: we take two stationary point
objects A and B and apply 1 newton on each of them. Say we observe
that their rates of acceleration are the same, and thus their inertial
masses are equal. Now we put the two objects in the same gravitational
field and observe that their accelerations are the same. Thus we say
that there is a force G acting on the objects which is proportianal to
the objects' inertial masses. So how do you define gravitational mass
at this point?

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Matt. H

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