Determination of the Gravitational ConstantG

Abstract

A new method for measuring the gravitational constant $G$ is described. Preliminary measurements give $G=(6.674\mathrm{}\pm 0.012)\times {10}^{-11\mathrm{}}$ N ${\mathrm{m}}^2$/${\mathrm{kg}}^2$ where the 0.012 represents 3 standard deviations. Furthermore there is reason to believe that with certain modifications of the apparatus and use of improved metrology techniques an increase in precision of at least one and probably two orders of magnitude will be obtained.