The Non Constant Gravitational Constant (G)?

In summary: The data still doesn’t look sinusoidal to me, but a Bayesian analysis suggests that a Gaussian error model is better than a sinusoidal error model.
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Paul Stowe
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TL;DR Summary
The value of G has been recently called into question by new measurements from respected research teams in Germany, New Zealand, and Russia. Their values using the best laboratory equipment to-date disagreed wildly with each other to the point that many are doubting about the constancy of this parameter.
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  • #2
Paul Stowe said:
Summary:: The value of G has been recently called into question by new measurements from respected research teams in Germany, New Zealand, and Russia.
Do you have any links to peer reviewed research substantiating this claim?
Their values using the best laboratory equipment to-date disagreed wildly with each...
I would hardly consider a 0.06% total span to be "disagree wildly".
History & evidence can be found in:

https://phys.org/news/2015-04-gravitational-constant-vary.html

The experimental data strongly suggest are actual x,y,z,t variations in the measured value of G
That link explicitly states that their conclusion is that the variation is due to periodic rotation speed variation for Earth. It definitely doesn't suggest a real variation in the value of G.
 
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  • #3
Paul Stowe said:
https://phys.org/news/2015-04-gravitational-constant-vary.html
Neither this journalistic link nor the scientific paper that it reports on claims that there is an actual variation in G. They only claim an unrecognized measurement sensitivity.

I am a little skeptical of even the claim of a sinusoidal error. With that few data points with such wide error bars measured over that many years and unequally spaced in time the Nyquist criteria would make it hard to distinguish many different frequencies. I would find the data much more convincing if they used a single apparatus at regular time intervals to show this effect.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1209/0295-5075/110/10002

The data just don’t look sinusoidal to me. A Bayesian analysis seems to suggest that a Gaussian error model is better than a sinusoidal error model.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1209/0295-5075/111/30002
 
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1. What is the Non Constant Gravitational Constant (G)?

The Non Constant Gravitational Constant (G) is a fundamental physical constant that represents the strength of the gravitational force between two objects. It is used in the calculation of the force of gravity between any two masses in the universe.

2. Why is the Gravitational Constant (G) considered non-constant?

The value of the Gravitational Constant (G) is believed to vary slightly over time and in different regions of the universe. This is due to the fact that gravity is a fundamental force and is affected by other factors such as the expansion of the universe and the presence of dark energy.

3. How is the value of the Non Constant Gravitational Constant (G) determined?

The value of the Non Constant Gravitational Constant (G) is determined through various experiments and observations, such as measuring the gravitational force between two masses in a laboratory setting or studying the motion of celestial bodies in space. It is currently estimated to be approximately 6.674 x 10^-11 m^3/kg/s^2.

4. What are the implications of a non-constant Gravitational Constant (G) on our understanding of gravity?

The non-constant nature of the Gravitational Constant (G) challenges our current understanding of gravity and the laws of physics. It suggests that there may be other factors at play in the universe that affect the strength of gravity and could potentially lead to a better understanding of the nature of gravity itself.

5. Are there any ongoing research or studies related to the Non Constant Gravitational Constant (G)?

Yes, there are ongoing research and studies being conducted to better understand the nature of the Non Constant Gravitational Constant (G) and its implications on our understanding of gravity. This includes experiments using highly sensitive equipment to measure the value of G and theoretical studies to explore the potential causes of its variability.

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