Abstract
We give precise definitions of the weak and strong principles of equivalence and show that the new gravitational theory based on the improved energy-momentum tensor of Callan, Coleman, and Jackiw [Ann. Phys. (N.Y.) 59, 42 (1970)] satisfies both of these principles. As a consequence of the equality between the 4-momentum given by the canonical energy-momentum tensor and the ``momentum'' given by the pseudotensor that is the source of gravitation, the weak principle is also shown to hold in more general Einstein theories. Investigation of the interactions of a scalar field in the new gravitational theory shows that, besides the familiar long range interaction, there exists a new short range gravitational interaction between any scalar field and other matter.