XIV. On a determination of the mean density of the Earth and the gravitation constant by means of the common balance

Abstract

In a paper printed in the Proceedings of the Royal Society,' No. 190, 1878 (vol. 28, pp. 2-35), I gave an account of some experiments undertaken in order to test the possibility of using the Common Balance in place of the Torsion Balance in the Cavendish Experiment. The success obtained seemed to justify the intention expressed in that paper to continue the work, using a large bullion balance, instead of the chemical balance with which the preliminary experiments were made. As I have had the honour to obtain grants from the Royal Society for the construction of the necessary apparatus, I have been able to carry out the experiment on the larger scale which appeared likely to render the method more satisfactory, and this paper contains an account of the results obtained.