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We present an approach to the origin of inertia involving the electromagneticcomponent of the quantum vacuum and propose this as an alternative to Mach'sprinciple. Preliminary analysis of the momentum flux of the classicalzero-point radiation impinging on accelerated objects as viewed by an inertialobserver suggests that the resistance to acceleration attributed to inertia maybe at least in part a force of opposition originating in the vacuum. Thisanalysis avoids the ad hoc modeling of particle-field interaction dynamics usedpreviously to derive a similar result. This present approach is not dependentupon what happens at the particle point, but on how an external observerassesses the kinematical characteristics of the zero-point radiation impingingon the accelerated object. A relativistic form of the equation of motionresults from the present analysis. Its covariant form yields a simple resultthat may be interpreted as a contribution to inertial mass. Our approach isrelated by the principle of equivalence to Sakharov's conjecture of aconnection between Einstein action and the vacuum. The argument presented maythus be construed as a descendant of Sakharov's conjecture by which we attemptto attribute a mass-giving property to the electromagnetic component -- andpossibly other components-- of the vacuum. In this view the physical momentumof an object is related to the radiative momentum flux of the vacuuminstantaneously contained in the characteristic proper volume of the object.The interaction process between the accelerated object and the vacuum (akin toabsorption or scattering of electromagnetic radiation) appears to generate aphysical resistance (reaction force) to acceleration suggestive of what hasbeen historically known as inertia.Comment: See also the companion paper physics/980203

Contribution to inertial mass by reaction of the vacuum to accelerated motion