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Moon’s Paradox: Why the Moon Is Not a Planet based on Desmos

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22 December 2025

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22 December 2025

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Abstract
In the Earth–Moon–Sun system, the Newtonian gravitational force exerted by the Sun on the Moon exceeds the force exerted by the Earth. A naive force-magnitude interpretation might therefore suggest that the Moon should be classified as a planet orbiting the Sun rather than as a satellite of the Earth. Newtonian mechanics resolves this situation through relative motion and stability analysis; however, it does not introduce a primitive scalar criterion that determines binding dominance in multi-body systems. This paper presents Desmos theory as an axiomatic framework that embeds Newtonian gravity as a strict special case, connects consistently with General Relativity through a metric-based transformation, and admits a formal correspondence with energy quantization. Desmos is interpreted as a causal and explanatory layer that classifies structural binding prior to dynamics, geometry, or quantization.
Keywords: 
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1. Introduction

Gravitational systems frequently involve multiple competing influences rather than isolated two-body interactions. Desmos specifies a primitive scalar criterion that determines which interaction is causally dominant in multi-body systems. Structural classifications such as planet, satellite, binary companion, or Trojan object typically emerge only after detailed dynamical analysis.
The Earth–Moon–Sun system illustrates this limitation clearly: although the Sun exerts a larger Newtonian force on the Moon than the Earth does, the Moon remains an Earth satellite. Desmos theory addresses this conceptual gap by introducing a scalar binding-dominance functional that operates at the source level of causality.

2. Newtonian Gravity and Its Explanatory Domain

Newtonian gravity defines the pairwise force
F i j ( N ) = G m i m j r i j 2   r ^ i j ,
and the equations of motion
m i a i = j i F i j ( N )
This framework predicts trajectories and stability accurately. Desmos introduces a primitive scalar measure that ranks competing interactions in multi-body systems. Binding classifications therefore arise indirectly through post-dynamical reasoning.

3. Desmos Theory and the Interaction Functional

Desmos theory introduces a generalized interaction functional (Bond interaction)
Δ i j = k B E i E j r i j n ,
with the energy mapping
E i = m i ϕ i ,                 ϕ i = G M i r .
The quantity Δ i j is postulated as a primitive binding-dominance functional. It is not interpreted as a force or an energy, but as a scalar ordering measure that determines structural attachment independently of dynamical trajectories.

4. Newtonian Gravity as a Special Case of Desmos Theory

Newtonian gravity is recovered exactly as a special case of Desmos theory.
Imposing
n = 2 ,                 k B ϕ i ϕ j = G ,
yields
Δ i j = G m i m j r i j 2 = F i j ( N ) .
Thus, Newtonian gravity is embedded as a strict limiting case of Desmos theory.

5. The Moon Case

Although
F M o o n S u n ( N ) > F E a r t h M o o n ( N ) ,
Desmos theory yields
Δ E a r t h M o o n Δ M o o n S u n
classifying the Moon as Earth-bound at the interaction level. Newtonian mechanics remains correct but reaches this conclusion only indirectly.

6. Axiomatic Status of Binding Dominance

Axiom (Binding Dominance): In any gravitational system composed of more than two bodies, there exists a scalar interaction functional that orders pairwise bindings and determines structural attachment independently of dynamical trajectories.
Axiom (Desmos Functional):
Δ i j = k B E i E j r i j n ,                 E i = m i ϕ i .
Newtonian gravity emerges as a corollary under the inverse-square limit.

7. Desmos as a Connection Theory: A Holistic View of Causality

Desmos theory can be interpreted as a connection framework linking Newtonian gravity, General Relativity, and energetic (including quantum) descriptions within a unified causal structure.

7.1. Desmos to General Relativity

In the weak-field limit, the spacetime metric satisfies
g 00 1 + 2 Φ c 2 ,
where Φ is the Newtonian gravitational potential. A relativistic potential proxy compatible with Desmos is defined as
ϕ G R = c 2 1 g 00 1 .
In the weak-field regime,
ϕ G R Φ = G M r ,
recovering the Desmos potential input. Substitution yields a GR-consistent Desmos interaction:
Δ i j ( G R ) = k B m i ϕ G R , i m j ϕ G R , j r i j n .

7.2. Energetic and Quantum Correspondence

Since Desmos is explicitly formulated in terms of energy, a formal correspondence with quantized energy may be introduced:
E i ( D e s m o s ) = m i ϕ i                 E i ( Q ) = n i ω i ,
which implies
m i ϕ i = n i ω i ,                 n i = m i ϕ i ω i
Substitution into the Desmos functional yields
Δ i j = k B 2 n i n j ω i ω j r i j n .
This correspondence does not imply quantum dynamics of macroscopic motion; it indicates that energetic discreteness may influence structural binding.
Desmos therefore acts as a causal and explanatory layer preceding dynamics, geometry, and quantization.

8. Conclusions

The Moon is not a planet orbiting the Sun because its dominant interaction, in the Desmos sense, is with the Earth. Desmos theory embeds Newtonian gravity, connects consistently with General Relativity, and admits a formal energetic correspondence, thereby functioning as a holistic causality and explanation framework. Detailed relativistic and cosmological implications are left for future work.

Appendix A

Below are the proofs:
In Newtonian gravity, the pairwise force law is
F i j ( N ) = G m i m j r i j 2   r ^ i j
The acceleration of body i is given by the vector sum of forces:
m i a i = j i F i j ( N ) .
Newtonian gravity therefore determines motion through an N -body dynamical problem. Furthermore,Desmos introduces a primitive scalar criterion of binding dominance for classification. Instead, notions such as “satellite” emerge from analysis of relative motion and stability (e.g., Hill stability).
Desmos theory introduces a generalized interaction form (Bond interaction):
Δ i j = k B E i E j r i j n ,
where the energy mapping is given by
E i = m i ϕ i
Substituting E i = m i ϕ i and E j = m j ϕ j , we obtain
Δ i j = k B   ϕ i ϕ j   m i m j r i j n .
The quantity Δ i j functions as a scalar interaction measure, which can be used to rank binding dominance directly. Newtonian gravity is recovered exactly from the Desmos/Bond interaction under suitable parameter constraints.
Start from the Desmos/Bond interaction:
Δ i j = k B   ϕ i ϕ j   m i m j r i j n
Impose the inverse-square exponent
n = 2
and calibrate the prefactor by requiring
k B   ϕ i ϕ j = G
Then,
Δ i j = k B   ϕ i ϕ j   m i m j r i j 2 = G m i m j r i j 2
Recognizing the right-hand side as the Newtonian force magnitude,
Δ i j = F i j ( N )
Thus, Newtonian gravity is a strict special case of Desmos theory under n = 2 and k B ϕ i ϕ j = G .
theory defines binding dominance through the scalar ranking of Δ i j . For the Earth–Moon and Moon–Sun pairs, Desmos theory yields the dominance condition
Δ E a r t h M o o n Δ M o o n S u n
This inequality expresses that the Earth–Moon binding interaction is stronger in the Desmos sense than the Moon–Sun interaction, even if the Newtonian force exerted by the Sun on the Moon is larger than that exerted by the Earth on the Moon.
Therefore, within Desmos theory, the Moon is fundamentally classified as Earth-bound (satellite) rather than Sun-bound as a planet.
This section is included to eliminate conceptual doubt. It is not used to reject Newtonian gravity, but to prove that the statement
F S u n M o o n > F E a r t h M o o n               ` ` M o o n m u s t o r b i t t h e S u n a s a p l a n e t ' '
is not a valid Newtonian implication.
Let R be the Earth–Sun distance and r the Earth–Moon distance with r R . Newtonian solar acceleration at distance x from the Sun is
a S ( x ) = G M S x 2 .
The disruptive component for Earth-binding is the difference between solar acceleration on the Moon and on the Earth:
Δ a S = a S ( R + r ) a S ( R )
Using a first-order Taylor approximation for r R ,
a S ( R + r ) a S ( R ) + a S ' ( R )   r ,                 a S ' ( x ) = d d x G M S x 2 = 2 G M S x 3
Thus,
Δ a S a S ' ( R ) r = 2 G M S R 3   r
Earth’s gravitational acceleration on the Moon is
a E = G M E r 2 .
Earth-binding is stable when the binding acceleration exceeds the tidal disruption scale:
a E Δ a S .
Substituting,
G M E r 2 2 G M S R 3   r .
Cancel G and rearrange:
r 3 M E 2 M S   R 3 .
The criterion for Earth-binding involves the differential solar effect Δ a S , not the total solar force magnitude. Therefore, the fact that the Sun’s Newtonian force on the Moon is larger than the Earth’s does not imply that the Moon must be classified as a planet orbiting the Sun. The classification emerges from relative dynamics and stability, not from comparing raw force magnitudes.
Thus, for the parameter choice s . d . 0 = 1   m and n = 2 , representative results are:
Δ E a r t h M o o n 1.458 × 1 0 57
and
Δ M o o n S u n 1.066 × 1 0 54
Hence the dominance ratio in the Desmos sense is
Δ E a r t h M o o n Δ M o o n S u n 1.458 × 1 0 57 1.066 × 1 0 54 1.37 × 1 0 3 .
Thus, the Earth–Moon interaction is approximately three orders of magnitude stronger than Moon–Sun under the Desmos interaction functional.
Representative Newtonian force magnitudes are:
F E a r t h M o o n = G M E M M r E M 2 1.982 × 1 0 20   N ,
and
Therefore, the Newtonian force ratio is
F M o o n S u n F E a r t h M o o n 4.363 × 1 0 20 1.982 × 1 0 20 2.20 .
This shows that the Sun’s Newtonian pull on the Moon is larger than Earth’s by a factor of about 2.2 , while the Desmos interaction functional ranks Earth–Moon as far more strongly bound than Moon–Sun. Within the context of the Moon’s paradox, Desmos theory clarifies the causal hierarchy underlying gravitational phenomena by operating at a level prior to dynamics, geometry, and quantization. This establishes Desmos as a unifying causality and explanation theory with structural explanatory power across classical, realitivistic and quantum domains.

Appendix B

Table A1. Symbols, physical meaning, and SI units used throughout the paper.
Table A1. Symbols, physical meaning, and SI units used throughout the paper.
Symbol Physical meaning SI unit
m i , m j Mass of body i , j kg
M i , M j Source mass generating gravitational field kg
r i j Distance between bodies i and j m
r Radial distance from source mass m
G Newtonian gravitational constant m3 kg−1 s−2
c Speed of light in vacuum m s−1
F i j ( N ) Newtonian gravitational force N (kg m s−2)
a i Acceleration of body i m s−2
Φ Newtonian gravitational potential m2 s−2
ϕ i Desmos potential proxy ( ϕ i = G M / r ) m2 s−2
E i Desmos energy variable ( E i = m i ϕ i ) J (kg m2 s−2)
Δ i j Desmos binding-dominance functional J2 m−n
k B Desmos interaction scaling constant mn J−2
n Desmos interaction exponent dimensionless
g 00 Time–time metric component (GR) dimensionless
ϕ G R Relativistic Desmos potential proxy m2 s−2
Reduced Planck constant J s
ω i Angular frequency (quantum correspondence) s−1
n i Quantum occupation number (formal correspondence) dimensionless
Δ i j ( G R ) GR-consistent Desmos interaction J2 m−n

Appendix C

Preprints 190835 i001

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