{
  "abstract": "We present a geometric foundation for gravity based on a microscopic solid-angle postulate. Each mass element is assumed to exert a gravitational influence on a test mass proportional to the solid angle that the test mass subtends as seen from the element's location. For a spherically symmetric source, direct integration yields the inverse-square law without assuming Newtonian gravity---the $1/r^{2}$ behavior emerges purely from geometric dilution. Calibration with Newton's constant gives the Newtonian potential $U(r) = -GMm/r$. Combining this potential with special-relativistic energy conservation in the source rest frame leads to the exact escape velocity\n\n\\[\n\nv_{\\text{esc}}(r)=c\\sqrt{1-\\frac{1}{\\bigl(1+GM/(c^{2}r)\\bigr)^{2}}}.\n\n\\]\n\nThe postulate is then extended to a fully covariant, causally consistent formulation in Minkowski spacetime. Using retarded interactions, we obtain for moving point masses the gravitational analogue of the Liénard--Wiechert potential, confirming that the theory respects Lorentz covariance and finite propagation speed $c$. The resulting scalar theory is formulated entirely in flat spacetime, matches Newtonian gravity in weak fields, and differs from general relativity at order $(GM/c^{2}r)^{2}$ and higher.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Retired Physicist, Independent Researcher, Baghdad, Iraq"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 1,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Saad Farid",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-0050-9400"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1j4cdpxhspq5y.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.5281/zenodo.23475436",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "1j4cdpxhspq5y",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://zenodo.org/records/23475436",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": "https://zenodo.org/api/records/23475436/files/Relativistic_Escape_Velocity_Solid_Angle_Postulate_v2_1.pdf/content",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-19",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1j4cdpxhspq5y.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-02T12:20:45Z",
      "native_id": "23475436",
      "source": "zenodo",
      "url": "https://zenodo.org/records/23475436"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [],
  "title": "A Solid-Angle Postulate as a Geometric Foundation for Gravity: Escape Velocity and Covariant Formulation in Flat Spacetime",
  "title_text": "A Solid-Angle Postulate as a Geometric Foundation for Gravity: Escape Velocity and Covariant Formulation in Flat Spacetime",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-02T12:20:45Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1j4cdpxhspq5y",
  "venue": "Zenodo",
  "versions": []
}