Does the Time-of-Swing Method Give a Correct Value of the Newtonian Gravitational Constant?

Kazuaki Kuroda
Phys. Rev. Lett. 75, 2796 – Published 9 October 1995
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Abstract

A standard way of measuring the Newtonian gravitational constant has been the time-of-swing method using a torsion pendulum. A key assumption is that the spring constant of the torsion fiber is independent of frequency. This is likely to be true to a good approximation if any damping present is proportional to velocity. However, recent work on the elasticity of flexure hinges suggests that typically the damping at low frequency is best modeled by including a frequency-independent imaginary component in the spring constant. In this case, the real part of the spring constant must vary, leading to an upward bias in a measurement of G.

  • Received 12 June 1995

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.75.2796

©1995 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Kazuaki Kuroda

  • Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, University of Tokyo, 3-2-1, Midoricho, Tanashi, Tokyo 188, Japan

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Vol. 75, Iss. 15 — 9 October 1995

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