Identifying where General Relativity falls short
Below we will highlight the specific failures of General Relativity (GR) in explaining fundamental local gravitational phenomena and outline what a complete gravitational model must address.
Below, I analyze each case where GR does not provide a sufficient explanation and define the requirements for a superior gravitational theory.
Planetary Orbits and Energy Changes
The Issue: Dynamic Spacetime Should Produce Observable Distortions
✔ Observed Phenomenon:
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Planets move in elliptical orbits, accelerating and decelerating due to gravitational interactions.
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According to GR, spacetime should dynamically adjust to these energy changes, creating measurable distortions or lags in the gravitational field.
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Problem: We do not observe these distortions or lags in a way that aligns with GR’s predictions.
Why GR Fails:
✔ GR relies on an abstract curvature model without a transmission mechanism.
✔ Spacetime is treated as a flexible fabric, but no direct energy transmission process is provided.
✔ If GR were correct, we should observe time-dependent distortions in gravitational interactions as planets accelerate and decelerate, but these distortions are not evident.
What a Complete Theory Must Explain:
✔ Gravity must account for energy changes dynamically and predict how energy shifts affect gravitational forces in real-time.
✔ A valid model must describe a medium or mechanism that allows gravity to "adjust" as planets move, rather than assuming an instantaneous response.
✔ Instead of treating spacetime as a passive geometry, the model must introduce a structured force interaction that actively transmits gravitational effects.
Tidal Forces and Gravitational Lags
The Issue: Why Does the Earth Have Two Tidal Bulges?
Observed Phenomenon:
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The Moon's gravity creates two tidal bulges on Earth—one facing the Moon and one on the opposite side.
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GR attributes this to differential gravity, where different parts of Earth experience different spacetime curvatures.
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Problem: GR does not directly explain why there are two bulges—only that they exist.
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Why GR Fails:
✔ GR does not provide a direct causal mechanism for the second bulge—only a mathematical description of tidal effects.
✔ Spacetime curvature alone does not explain why material on the opposite side of Earth is pulled outward rather than simply being “less pulled” toward the Moon.
✔ A proper explanation must account for the mechanical process that creates and sustains these tidal effects in a way that aligns with physical transmission principles.
What a Complete Theory Must Explain:
✔ A correct gravitational model must describe an active transmission mechanism that accounts for delayed tidal effects.
✔ The model must explain how gravity interacts with planetary rotation and fluid dynamics to produce a second bulge, rather than just assuming it exists.
✔ Instead of treating gravity as a purely radial force, it must be understood as a pressure-based interaction with matter that allows for delayed responses and resonance effects.
Lagrange Points and Stable Orbits
The Issue: Stability in a Dynamic Spacetime Model
✔ Observed Phenomenon:
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Lagrange points are locations where the gravitational forces of two large bodies balance out with the centrifugal force of a smaller object.
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These points allow for stable orbits, where objects can remain without drifting away.
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Problem: GR does not explicitly predict or explain the formation of Lagrange points—it focuses on geodesic motion in curved spacetime.
Why GR Fails:
✔ Lagrange points require a structured equilibrium in gravitational forces—but GR does not describe any active balancing mechanism.
✔ GR only describes geodesics (paths through curved spacetime) and does not address the dynamic stabilization seen at Lagrange points.
✔ If gravity were solely about passive spacetime curvature, there would be no reason for these precise stable points to exist.
What a Complete Theory Must Explain:
✔ A complete theory must describe why certain regions of space experience balanced gravitational interactions.
✔ Instead of treating Lagrange points as emergent properties, the model must define an active equilibrium process that sustains their stability.
✔ A valid model must account for how gravitational fields actively interact to produce self-sustaining stable regions in space.
Earth’s Gravity in Motion
The Issue: No Observable Leading-Trailing Gravitational Asymmetry
✔ Observed Phenomenon:
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The Earth moves through the Sun’s gravitational field as it orbits.
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According to GR, the leading and trailing sides of Earth should experience different gravitational effects due to spacetime curvature variations.
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Problem: We do not observe this expected asymmetry.
Why GR Fails:
✔ If GR’s model were correct, gravitational effects should not be uniform across Earth’s leading and trailing edges as it moves.
✔ Spacetime curvature should cause observable variations in gravitational strength depending on Earth’s motion—yet this is not detected.
✔ If spacetime dynamically responds to mass-energy motion, why do we not observe measurable variations in Earth's gravitational interaction?
What a Complete Theory Must Explain:
✔ A correct gravitational model must account for motion-dependent variations in gravitational interaction.
✔ Instead of assuming gravity propagates instantaneously, the model must define how gravitational effects adjust dynamically based on an object’s velocity and position in the field.
✔ A superior theory should predict whether gravitational interactions have directional biases based on motion and whether this could be measured experimentally.
Asteroid Belt and Resonance Effects
The Issue: Why Do Asteroids Form Orbital Resonances?
✔ Observed Phenomenon:
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In the asteroid belt, many asteroids have orbits that are simple integer ratios of each other (e.g., 2:1 resonance with Jupiter).
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Newtonian gravity explains resonance as a result of periodic gravitational interactions between asteroids and planets.
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Problem: GR does not explicitly predict or explain orbital resonance within its framework of spacetime curvature.
Why GR Fails:
✔ GR describes gravity as geodesic motion through curved spacetime, but it does not account for why orbital resonances naturally form.
✔ If spacetime curvature were the only factor, there should not be a preference for resonant orbits over non-resonant ones.
✔ Resonance suggests an active force or feedback system—something beyond just passive geodesic motion.
What a Complete Theory Must Explain:
✔ A correct gravitational model must describe how gravitational fields interact to produce orbital stability at resonant frequencies.
✔ Instead of treating resonance as a side effect, the model must identify whether it is a fundamental characteristic of gravitational interaction.
✔ A valid theory should explain whether resonance effects are governed by pressure-based interactions rather than just mass-distance ratios.