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

Jens H. Gundlach, Stephen M. Merkowitz

gr-qcarXiv:gr-qc/0006043

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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