A Constructive Model of Newtonian Gravitation

Abstract

The paper explores whether Newtonian gravitation is mediated by force fields, and, if so, whether it can explain known gravitational phenomena. In conformity with the historical and conventional practice, the paper presents a physical model in which gravitational forces among objects are mediated by those force fields which are associated with the mass and momentum properties of the objects. The model explains: gravitational forces among masses, between mass and light, among photons, and among electromagnetic waves; gravity's effect on spectral lines, time periods of atomic clocks, rays of light, and lengths of material rods. The model addresses: Mercury's orbital precession rate; the pioneer anomaly; gravitational radiation from accelerating masses. It advances suggestions for detecting gravitational radiation and measuring its speed. The model rediscovers: gravitational deflection of light rays, shift of spectral lines, and dilation of time periods of atomic clocks; gravitational shrinking of elliptical orbits. The literature reveals that the Newtonian gravitational field can account for Mercury's orbital precession rate. The model finds that all or a portion of the pioneer anomaly can be due to minute changes in gravity at the spacecraft. It estimates gravitational radiation energy emissions from the moon, the planet Mars, and the Hulse-Taylor binary pulsars. It proposes that a lunar satellite may serve as a platform for detecting the gravitational radiation and measuring its speed.