Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Most Accurate Value of Gravitational Constant ‘G’ Till Date

Physicists have accomplished the first most precise and accurate measurement of Newtonian gravitational constant G

The Gravitational Constant denoted by the letter G appears in Sir Isaac Newton’s law of universal gravitation which states that any two objects exert a gravitational force of attraction on each other. The value of Newtonian gravitational constant G (also called Universal Gravitational Constant) is used to measure attractive gravitational force between two objects. It is a good example of a classic yet persistent challenge in physics as even after almost three centuries, it is still not completely clear how can value of G – one of the most fundamental constants in nature – be measured precisely with consistent accuracy. The value of G is determined by measuring the distance and mass of two objects relative to their gravitational attraction. It is an extremely small numerical value owing to the fact that force of gravitational attraction is significant only for objects with large mass. The most challenging aspect is that gravity is a much weaker force compared to other fundamental forces like electromagnetism, weak and strong attractions and thus G is extremely difficult to measure. Further, gravity has no known relationship with other fundamental forces, so calculating its value indirectly using other constants (which can be calculated more precisely) is not possible. Gravity is the only interaction in nature which cannot be described by quantum theory.

An accurate value of G

In a recent study published in Nature, scientists from China have produced the closest results for the value of G. For many years before this study, pre-existing value of G has been 6.673889 × 10-11 m3 kg-1 s-2 (Units: meters cubed per kilogram per second squared). In the current study researchers used angular-acceleration feedback method and also time-of-swing method to be able to come close to constructing a precise and correct value. The results were 6.674184 x 10-11 m3 kg-1 s-2 and 6.674484 x 10-11 m3 kg-1 s-2 and these results show small standard deviation ever reported when compared to values of G in earlier studies. Standard deviation is used to measure the amount of variation in a set of data. So, a smaller standard deviation means that data are closely distributed to the mean value signifying that there is not much ‘deviation’ in the data i.e. it does not change much.

The uncertainty around the value of G

Researchers have stated that their results also illustrate “undiscovered systematic errors” in different existing methods. They point out that of all existing methods, the most preferred method involves interferometry – a method of interfering with atomic waves – and this method should be focused on for future improvements. New approaches like shown in this study need to be adopted to fully understand the mystique of the value of G and its relevance in broad areas of physical sciences. The value of G itself may not be the issue here but the uncertainty which surrounds its value. This somewhat shows our inability to measure weak forces such as gravity and lack of theoretical understanding of gravity.

***

{You may read the original research paper by clicking the DOI link given below in the list of cited source(s)}

Source(s)

Qing L et al 2018. Measurements of the gravitational constant using two independent methods. Nature. 560.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-018-0431-5

***

SCIEU Team
SCIEU Teamhttps://www.scientificeuropean.co.uk
Scientific European® | SCIEU.com | Significant advances in science. Impact on humankind. Inspiring minds.

Subscribe to our newsletter

To be updated with all the latest news, offers and special announcements.

Most Popular Articles

The Fast Radio Burst, FRB 20220610A originated from a novel source  

Fast Radio Burst FRB 20220610A, the most powerful radio...

Gluten Intolerance: A Promising Step Towards Developing a Treatment for Cystic Fibrosis and Celiac...

Study suggests a new protein involved in development of...

Green Tea Vs Coffee: The Former Seems Healthier

According to a study conducted among elderly in Japan,...
- Advertisement -
93,340FansLike
47,367FollowersFollow
1,772FollowersFollow
30SubscribersSubscribe