Resistance to the accelerating expansion of the universe by objects with mass as the cause of gravitation

This essay proposes an explanation of gravitation that is based on observations of accelerating expansion of the universe. A possible explanation for the accelerating expansion of the universe is an expansionary force between all points in empty space. This paper hypothesizes that, if all points in space accelerate outward against all other points in space, then even a small expansionary force would accumulate across the entire universe into a very large force against objects that resist this force. By definition, mass is an object's resistance to acceleration. In a universe of space expanding against itself with force, the resistance by objects with mass to the pervasive accelerating expansion of the universe surrounding them could curve space and draw masses together. If all points in space expand against all contiguous points and mass resists this force, then (1) objects would apply a resistance to space equal to their masses, (2) the expansionary acceleration of space would accumulate across the entire universe into a force that is equal and opposite to the mass of any object, and (3) by resisting the expansionary acceleration of the entire universe that surrounds them, objects with mass would be drawn together as if by an attractive force. Therefore, rather than an attractive force between objects with mass, the curvature of space attributed to gravity could be the effect of mass resisting the accelerating expansion of the universe. This framework of gravitation by universal expansion (GUE)-linking the accelerating expansion of the universe to gravitation-is supported by recent findings that the numerical value of Hubble's constant, measuring the rate of universal expansion, can be derived from Newton's gravitational constant, measuring universal gravitation. (C) 2018 Physics Essays Publication.