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Cited by 60Scientific Measurement and Uncertainty EvaluationRelativity and Gravitational TheoryAdvanced Measurement and Metrology Techniques

Precision measurement of the Newtonian gravitational constant

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Xue, Chao, Liu, Jian-Ping, Li, Qing, Wu, Jun-Fei, Yang, Shan-Qing, Liu, Qi, Shao, Cheng-Gang, Tu, Liang-Cheng, Hu, Zhong-Kun, Luo, Jun·2020·National Science Review
DOI 10.1093/nsr/nwaa165PMC PMC8290936
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Abstract

The Newtonian gravitational constant G, which is one of the most important fundamental physical constants in nature, plays a significant role in the fields of theoretical physics, geophysics, astrophysics and astronomy. Although G was the first physical constant to be introduced in the history of science, it is considered to be one of the most difficult to measure accurately so far. Over the past two decades, eleven precision measurements of the gravitational constant have been performed, and the latest recommended value for G published by the Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA) is (6.674 08 ± 0.000 31) × 10−11 m3 kg−1 s−2 with a relative uncertainty of 47 parts per million. This uncertainty is the smallest compared with previous CODATA recommended values of G; however, it remains a relatively large uncertainty among other fundamental physical constants. In this paper we briefly review the history of the G measurement, and introduce eleven values of G adopted in CODATA 2014 after 2000 and our latest two values published in 2018 using two independent methods.

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  • Gobs has only been accurately measured to a relative precision of ε = 10^-15.

    “Whereas G obs has only been accurately measured to a relative precision of ε = 10 -15 [39]”

    From Is cosmological tuning fine or coarse? (2021) · cites this paper as [39]

    The History of the G Measurement (Table 3) lists the smallest reported relative uncertainty as 12 ppm, or 1.2 × 10^-5—not 10^-15. The Conclusion and Outlook also reports a roughly 550 ppm discrepancy among measured values of G. (LLM, conf=0.93)

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Xue, C., Liu, J.-P., Li, Q., Wu, J.-F., Yang, S.-Q., Liu, Q., Shao, C.-G., Tu, L.-C., Hu, Z.-K., & Luo, J.
Affiliations
  • Sun Yat-sen University (CN)
  • TianQin Research Center for Gravitational Physics & School of Physics and Astronomy, Sun Yat-sen University (Zhuhai Campus), Zhuhai 519082, China
  • Huazhong University of Science and Technology (CN)
  • MOE Key Laboratory of Fundamental Physical Quantities Measurement & Hubei Key Laboratory of Gravitation and Quantum Physics, PGMF and School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Corresponding author
  • Yang, Shan-Qing
  • Luo, Jun
ORCID
Venue
National Science Review
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2020-07-22
Volume
7
Issue
12
Pages
1803-1817
ISSN
  • 2053-714X (ISSN-L)
  • 2095-5138
DOI
10.1093/nsr/nwaa165
PMC
PMC8290936
OpenAlex
W3043914808
Cited by
60
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 3
FWCI
4.27
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • National Science Review (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (91536223, 11722542, 11325523, 11605295)
  • National Basic Research Program of China (2010CB832801)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Instrumentation › Scientific Measurement and Uncertainty Evaluation
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Relativity and Gravitational Theory
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Mechanical Engineering › Advanced Measurement and Metrology Techniques
Keywords
gravitational constant, Newtonian gravity, precision measurement, fundamental physical constants, CODATA 2018

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