This work shows that the principles introduced by Einstein in his paper published in 1911 on the influence of gravitation on light propagation [1], when properly interpreted lead to a relativistic form of the escape velocity equation in addition to a relativistic form of the gravitational potential energy equation. It is now shown in this present work that the relativistic form of the escape velocity equation leads to a relativistic value for the event horizon of black holes that is exactly half the distance determined by using the Newtonian form of the escape velocity equation. As stated in the abstract, this means that the actual radius of a black hole is exactly one half of the Newtonian based Schwarzschild radius.

The standard Newtonian derivation of the escape velocity equation is as follows: First we are given the equation for the potential energy of a mass m at any radius R from the centre of a celestial body of mass M as stated by

Gravitational Potential Energy, where P_E is the gravitational potential energy [2]. Then we are given the Newtonian kinetic energy equation in the form

Newtonian Kinetic Energy, where K is kinetic energy of a mass m moving at speed v [2]. Next we are given the relationship

Minimum Escape Energy that gives the minimum energy required for mass m to escape the gravity of the celestial body of mass M [2]. Solving this equation for v then gives

Newtonian Escape Velocity where v of the final equation is the Newtonian escape velocity. This is considered the minimum speed in a radial direction that an isolated body would have to be moving at when it reaches radial distance R from the centre of mass in order to escape the gravity of a celestial body of mass M. Since it is given that

Gravitational Potential where P_E is the gravitational potential [2], and by substituting it into Equation (6) we obtain

Newtonian Escape Velocity as the final form of the Newtonian equation for escape velocity. (Only now, as will be shown next in Section 3, is it known for certain that Equation (1) gives the Newtonian value for gravitational potential energy P_E and not the relativistic value.)

To begin the relativistic derivation process, first we need to convert the equation for gravitational potential energy P_E to its relativistic form. We do this by simply factoring it with the Lorentz transformation factor [3]. This gives

where the term to the far right is an exact version of the Lorentz factor commonly referred to as gamma, and represented by the Greek symbol “γ” [3]. Simplification of Equation (9) then gives

Relativistic Potential Energy Where is the relativistic potential energy for the relationships defined.  This conversion is justified by the evidence supported observations of the asymptotic increase in energy needed to accelerate an object to speed v. An object at a given potential then by definition contains the amount of potential energy given by Equation (10) and not the amount given by Equation (1).

For our next step in the derivation process we employ the relativistic kinetic energy

Relativistic Kinetic Energy, where K now gives the correct value for kinetic energy at all speeds of v from 0 to c. This equation has previously been acknowledged as a correct equation for relativistic kinetic energy by scientific authorities. To continue the derivation process we now simply follow the same procedure used in the previous Newtonian derivation beginning with

Minimum Escape Energy, where now we show the minimum relativistic escape energy and not the minimum Newtonian escape energy needed to overcome the gravitational force of celestial body M. This then gives

that when solved for v gives

that simplifies to

and since

Gravitational Potential, we obtain

Relativistic Escape Velocity for the relativistic version of the escape velocity equation. It gives virtually the same results for v as the Newtonian version of the Equation, Equation (8), except for gravitational potential P_E values that approach c². At that potential the escape velocity v takes on the value of v = c, as a quick visual inspection of Equation (17) will indicated. At the same potential the Newtonian Equation (8) will give a value of, or v =1.414c as a quick visual inspection of the equation will show.

Similarly Equation (17) when solve for P_G at gives

from which by way of substitution with Equation (7) we obtain

that when solved for radial distance R gives

Relativistic Event Horizon, where R is the radius of the black hole, or the distance from its centre to the event horizon. This equation gives exactly half the value as that of the standard Newtonian equation (Schwarzschild radius)

Schwarzschild Radius, as is readily seen by comparison of the two.

In consideration of the fact that the independent mathematical derivation presented in this work gives an identical result to that of the previous derivations that used completely different principles of general relativity, it seems more than reasonable to conclude that the result must be valid. Based upon several independent analyses, the Schwarzschild radius is twice the distance from the centre of a black hole to its event horizon. It then directly follows that black holes are only half as large as previously believed. This finding, however, affects more than just back holes; it affects our entire understanding of the universe right out to its very edge and it also affects the interaction of all of the matter it contains.