Abstract: | The hypothesis of gravitational attenuation is discussed and several theoretical problems with possible solutions are noted. It is pointed out that, if energy were attenuated out of the gravitational field by matter, it would ultimately be thermalized. Geothermal data are then employed to establish an upper limit to the gravitational attenuation coefficient, some fifteen orders of magnitude smaller than the currently accepted value. The internal heating of other planetary bodies is investigated to see if a yet smaller upper limit is deducible therefrom – with negative results. |