This paper abandons the spacetime curvature hypothesis of general relativity. Based on the classical mechanical system, combined with the propagation characteristics of gravitational action and the corresponding response mechanism, this study fully deduces the mechanical essence of Mercury’s perihelion precession. It presents theoretically derivated formulas and numerical results that are in precise agreement with astronomical observations, achieving a self-consistent explanation of the phenomenon entirely within classical mechanics. The research relies on three core physical premises: gravitational interaction consists jointly of relative spatial action and medium response; Mercury’s orbital system is constrained by inertial laws; any change in planetary motion inevitably accompanies the transformation of gravitational potential energy into orbital kinetic energy. The core physical mechanism lies in the finite propagation speed of gravity. As Mercury moves along its elliptical orbit, the radial distance variation leads to asymmetric gravitational response. The gravitational response advances during approaching motion and delays during receding motion, generating an additional tangential deflection force that directly drives orbital precession. By constructing the second-order deflection force formula, applying energy conservation, and conducting closed orbital integration, this paper derives the rigorous theoretical expression for perihelion precession. Substituting real observational orbital parameters and calibrating the natural coupling coefficient, the calculated precession result equals approximately 43 arcseconds per century, which matches observational data perfectly. The final conclusion confirms that Mercury’s perihelion precession is not caused by spacetime geometry bending. It is a pure mechanical effect originating from finite gravitational propagation and asymmetric orbital motion. The entire derivation strictly obeys Newtonian inertial principles and energy conservation. By supplementing the gravitational response mechanism, classical mechanics can completely explain the key astronomical anomaly, providing a solid new theoretical approach for the unification of fundamental gravitational theories. Abstract Based on the framework of classical mechanics, combined with the propagation characteristics of gravity and its response mechanism, this paper derives the mechanical mechanism of Mercury’s perihelion precession without introducing the spacetime curvature hypothesis. By analyzing the correlation between gravitational propagation delay and orbital motion, it presents a verifiable precession formula whose numerical results are in precise agreement with observational data. This provides a complete explanation for Mercury’s perihelion precession at the classical mechanical level, without relying on the relativistic view of spacetime.
Yan Li (Wed,) studied this question.