The Electrostatic Gravimeter: An Alternate Way of Measuring Gravitational Acceleration

Abstract

In the past, the gravitational acceleration on the surface of the Earth, $g$, has been measured in many ways. Various methods include the use of a pendulum as well as models involving the use of a mass on a spring. We have designed a new method incorporating the mass-spring model with a capacitor, and a capacitance meter. This capacitor model still uses a hanging mass on a spring, but alters the method of determining the change in position of the mass attached to the spring caused by the gravitational acceleration. We relate the change in position of mass to the capacitance across the two parallel plates. By relating this capacitance directly to the gravitational acceleration, a new method of measuring $g$ is obtained.