Measurement of Newton's Constant Using a Torsion Balance with Angular Acceleration Feedback

2000/06/30 by Jens H. Gundlach, Stephen M. Merkowitz · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #gr-qc

paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.85.2869

published as Phys.Rev.Lett. 85 (2000) 2869-2872 · 4 pages, 4 figures

arxiv created 2000/08/08 · arxiv updated 2009/11/30

Abstract

We measured Newton's gravitational constant G using a new torsion balance method. Our technique greatly reduces several sources of uncertainty compared to previous measurements: (1) it is insensitive to anelastic torsion fiber properties; (2) a flat plate pendulum minimizes the sensitivity due to the pendulum density distribution; (3) continuous attractor rotation reduces background noise. We obtain G = (6.674215 +- 0.000092)x10^-11 m³kg^-1s^-2; the Earth's mass is, therefore, M = (5.972245 +- 0.000082)x10²4 kg and the Sun's mass is M = (1.988435 +- 0.000027)x10³0kg.

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