Gravitational Experiments in the Laboratory Book

This book provides an account of the precise experiments exploring the nature of universal gravitation that can be performed in a laboratory. Experiment design is discussed, including an analysis of the effects of noise and other disturbances. Critical accounts are given of the principal experiments testing the principle of equivalence and the inverse square law, and measuring the constant of gravitation. The book will be of value to those engaged in either theoretical or experimental studies of gravitation, and who wish to understand the nature and problems of laboratory experiments in this field. 1. Introduction; 2. The linear oscillator driven by thermal noise and with electrical damping; 3. External sources of noise, and design of experiments; 4. The weak principle of equivalence; 5. Verification of the weak principle of equivalence for free particles; 6. Newtonian attractors of extended bodies; 7. Experimental tests of the inverse square law; 8. The constant of gravitation; 9. Conclusion; References; Index.Read More