Free Fall in Gravitational Theory

TL;DR

This paper revisits the concept of free fall in gravitational theory, highlighting inaccuracies in traditional equations and proposing a velocity-dependent mass approach for a more accurate description.

Contribution

It introduces a novel perspective by incorporating velocity-dependent mass into Newtonian gravity to better model free fall in gravitational fields.

Findings

Traditional equations misrepresent free fall dynamics.

Velocity-dependent mass provides a more accurate free fall description.

Revises understanding of gravitational motion in classical physics.

Abstract

Einstein's explanation of Mercury's perihelion motion has been verified by astronomical observations. His formula could also be obtained in Schwarzschild metric and was published already in 1898. Motion along a straight geodesic, however, namely, free fall into a gravitational center with vanishing angular momentum, is incorrectly described both by Einstein's and by Schwarzschild's equation of motion. A physical solution for free fall may be obtained by taking into account the dependence of mass on velocity in Newton's gravitational law as adopted in the physics of accelerators.