Measurement of Newton’s gravitational constant

Abstract

A precision measurement of the gravitational constant $G$ has been made using a beam balance. Special attention has been given to determining the calibration, the effect of a possible nonlinearity of the balance and the zero-point variation of the balance. The equipment, the measurements, and the analysis are described in detail. The value obtained for $G$ is $6.674\text{ }252(109)(54)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}11}\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{m}}^{3}\text{ }{\mathrm{kg}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\text{ }{\mathrm{s}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$. The relative statistical and systematic uncertainties of this result are $16.3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}6}$ and $8.1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}6}$, respectively.