- #1
Cyrus
- 3,238
- 16
Hi, I was wondering if anyone could explain how cavendish determined the value of G. I have read that he used a mirror on a small wire to determine the angle and from there determined the value of G. I do not see how you can detemrine G, since there are many unknowns. You have
[tex] G M m / r^2 [/tex].
You know the two masses and their distance, but that is not enough to know G. A few books have said you also know w=mg = G m m/r^2, but this is not true, a cavendish does not factor in g, since the balls move side ways indepent of gravity g. Also, how come in this cavendish the two balls don't come together and touch and just sit there? Thanks, ( I hope Bobg replies :tongue2: )
[tex] G M m / r^2 [/tex].
You know the two masses and their distance, but that is not enough to know G. A few books have said you also know w=mg = G m m/r^2, but this is not true, a cavendish does not factor in g, since the balls move side ways indepent of gravity g. Also, how come in this cavendish the two balls don't come together and touch and just sit there? Thanks, ( I hope Bobg replies :tongue2: )