Precision measurement of the Newtonian gravitational constant

Abstract

The Newtonian gravitational constant G, which is one of the most important fundamental physical constants in nature, plays a significant role in the fields of the theoretical physics, geophysics, astrophysics, and astronomy. Although G was the first physical constant to be introduced in the history of science, it is considered to be one of the most difficult to measure accurately so far. Over the past two decades, eleven precision measurements of gravitational constant have been performed, and the latest recommended value for G published by the Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA) is (6.67408 ± 0.00031) × 10−11 m3kg−1s−2 with a relative uncertainty of 47 parts per million (ppm). This uncertainty is the smallest one compared with the previous CODATA recommended values of G, however, it remains a relatively large uncertainty among other fundamental physical constants. This paper briefly reviews the history of G measurement, and also introduces eleven values of G adopted in the CODATA-2014 after the year 2000 and our latest two values published in 2018 using two independent methods.

Additional Solar System Gravitational Anomalies

“…Results from experiments by the same team using equipment that is the same except for target mass should minimise systematic and other errors. Researchers confirmed the results above with the finding thatĜ rose from 6.67349 to 6.67418 × 10 −11 m 3 •kg −1 •s −2 when the target mass rose from 63 to 68 g [17].…”

An Analytical Approach to the Universal Wave Function and Its Gravitational Effect

“…In future work, we will consider dedicated experimental scheme to detect this fluctuating gravitational effect, which has the chance to reveal the gravitational force due to diffusion wave packets, aside from astronomical observations. If the unexplained uncertainty in the earth-based measurements [14] of Newtonian gravitational constant can be found to have relevance to the fluctuation of γ j and ζ j , it would be a strong support to our theory.…”

“…In this case, it is extremely hard to notice differences in gravitational effects caused by fluctuations of γ j and ζ j . It would be interesting to notice that after many years of the earth-based measurements [14] of Newtonian gravitational constant, there is an unexplained uncertainty in the measurement result of G [14]. One of the relevant experimental groups is asking for possible new physical principle [14] to explain the uncertainty.…”

“…It would be interesting to notice that after many years of the earth-based measurements [14] of Newtonian gravitational constant, there is an unexplained uncertainty in the measurement result of G [14]. One of the relevant experimental groups is asking for possible new physical principle [14] to explain the uncertainty. Whether this kind of fluctuations of γ j and ζ j has chances to interpret the uncertainty of Newtonian gravitational constant is a question worthwhile of researching in the future.…”

Stellar Structure in a Newtonian Theory with Variable G

“…Among these four constants, the gravitational coupling G was the first one to be identified, although it is the one that is known with the poorest precision: its value is determined up to the 10 −4 order [1]. This is a consequence of the universality of this fundamental physical interaction, the only one that is rigorously present in all phenomena in nature, and always with an attractive behavior.…”