Abstract

The Density-Driven Drag Hypothesis suggests that gravitational interactions are not the result of spacetime curvature, but rather emerge from the influence of spatial density variations on massive objects. This model posits that an increase in spatial density experienced by an object as it approaches another massive object results in a drag effect, which simulates gravitational attraction. This hypothesis reintroduces a separate treatment of space and time, thereby challenging the spacetime framework of relativity. The slingshot effect, frequently observed in celestial mechanics, is interpreted via the layer sorting principle, which explains acceleration in gravitational fields without significant deceleration due to drag. Further research is required to test the viability of this hypothesis.