4. A Physical Interpretation of the Results.

The purpose of this section is to augment the discussions in Section 2, and the mathematical derivations in Section 3, with a further interpretation of the results in a physical sense. This, it is hoped, will assist in the understanding of the process of generation of the gravitational effect presented here within the Relativistic Domain D1. However, it is again emphasised that because of the lack of observational evidence, this interpretation must also be considered as somewhat speculative.

All points in space, including any material bodies that occupy them, exist within a Relativistic Domain according to one simple criterion. The vector sum of their velocities along all four Domain axes must always be equal to a specific value. In previous papers this was termed the Existence Velocity of the Domain. In the Domain D0, Pseudo-Euclidean Space-Time, the magnitude of Existence Velocity is the constant velocity parameter c. In general, the greater part of Existence Velocity will be along the temporal axis, and the passage of time in the spatial part of the Domain is then given by the ratio of the distance travelled along the temporal axis, to the velocity along that axis. When a material body is present in D0, it interacts with the Domain thereby changing it to produce the gravitational Domain D1. It is proposed that this occurs in the following manner.

As the motion of the gravitational source along the temporal axis proceeds, a transition takes place from the temporal dimension to the three spatial dimensions such that, an expansion of the three spatial dimensions takes place along all radius vectors from the centre of the source. The transition enters the spatial part of the Domain at the very centre of the source, and expands outwards with the linear expansion velocity vis. The initial value of the linear expansion velocity at the centre of the source is given by the constant term in (3.30). As the expansion moves away from the centre in an infinitely close series of wavefronts, the linear expansion velocity is subjected to a measure of attenuation. Firstly, a degree of spatial re-absorption appears to take place within the source, causing a deceleration of vis as represented by the second, variable term in (3.30). This re-absorption, being a function of distance from the centre of the source, increases as the expansion proceeds.

Upon reaching the outer periphery of the source, the re-absorption stops and the linear expansion velocity at this point, and beyond, simplifies to that given by (3.19). The only attenuation after this point is that resulting from the inverse distance dependency. The expansion continues on in this manner into the space surrounding the source.

It should be noted that in the derivation of the spatial linear expansion velocities, vs and vis in (3.19) and (3.30), the positive roots have been taken. If the negative roots are taken, negative gravitational results would be obtained and therefore both positive and negative values of these parameters provide acceptable solutions. The main difference of course is that in the case of negative roots, the terms, vs and vis then represent contraction velocities because in this case, the source would be generating a contraction of space. The importance of this will become evident in a future paper on the cosmological application of Relativistic Domain Theory.

Returning to the solution detailed here, using the positive roots of (3.19) and (3.30) to produce normal gravitation, the two principle consequences, applicable both inside and outside the source, are due to the spatial variability of the linear expansion velocity. The first is that this variability is the direct cause of gravitational acceleration in the form of the Acceleration Potential of the Domain. The second consequence concerns the criterion of existence within the Domain. The linear expansion velocity of all points both inside and outside the source, causes a corresponding reduction in their temporal velocity resulting in the basic time dilatation effect. Also, because the linear expansion velocity is a function of radial distance, so then is the temporal velocities of all spatial points, and thus via (3.1), the rate of the passage of time is also a function of radial distance, thereby constituting the radial variability of the time dilatation effect.

Finally, it is necessary to comment on other effects this spatial expansion might have on other material bodies in the vicinity. The Acceleration Potential and time dilatation discussed above have an additional combined effect. The combination produces the net acceleration experienced by a gravitating body as shown in [1] Eq(3.17), the equation of gravitational planar orbital motion. The Acceleration Potential causes the primary negative acceleration towards the source, while the spatial variability of time dilatation causes a velocity dependent positive acceleration. In normal astronomical situations the first of these terms is predominant. This is the only additional effect that would be experienced by other material bodies close to a gravitational source. In particular, the expansion of space itself would not have any further effect. This is because the expansion does not involve the dissipation of energy, and therefore cannot impose a mechanical force on other material bodies. The spatial expansion would simply flow past and through such bodies, and consequently their states of motion would not be altered by this part of the process.

It is possible however, that some absorbtion may take place as the spatial expansion from one source flowed through another close by, just as it does in the interior of the generating body. The result would be that the combined gravitational effect behind both bodies in line, would be very slightly less than the sum of their individual gravitational potentials.

G3 Version 1.2.2
Ó P.G.Bass March 2004

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