Gravitational Constant (G)

📚 Key Concepts

🔹 Real-Life Example of Gravitational Constant

Imagine trying to measure the attraction between two bowling balls placed 1 meter apart. The force would be incredibly tiny – about 10⁻⁹ Newtons! This small value shows why G is so tiny. It’s also why we don’t feel gravitational pulls between everyday objects, even though the force exists.

🧪 Important Formulas

🔸 Value and Units of G

• Value: G = 6.674 × 10⁻¹¹ Nm²/kg²
• Units: Newton-meter squared per kilogram squared (Nm²/kg²)
• Dimensional Formula: [M⁻¹L³T⁻²]

🔹 How G Was Calculated

G was first measured by Henry Cavendish in 1798 using a torsion balance experiment. He used lead spheres and observed the twist in a suspended rod to detect the tiny gravitational attraction between them.

🔍 Advanced: Universality of G

Unlike other constants that can change with temperature or medium, G remains constant everywhere in the universe. Whether in vacuum, air, water, or solid matter, G keeps the same value. This universality makes G one of the fundamental constants of nature.