What mechanism does Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) propose to explain flat rotation curves?
Standard gravity breaks down or changes behavior in regimes of extremely low accelerations.
Modified Newtonian Dynamics, or MOND, represents an alternative framework to the Dark Matter hypothesis. Instead of introducing unseen mass to explain the discrepancy, MOND theory posits that the fundamental laws governing gravity, specifically Newton's inverse square law, are not entirely accurate when applied to environments characterized by extremely weak forces. In the outskirts of galaxies, where accelerations felt by stars and gas are very low, MOND suggests that gravity deviates from standard Newtonian predictions. This modification to the governing law itself, rather than the inclusion of extra, unobserved mass, is intended to account for the observed flat rotation profile.
