Cavendish Balance Experiment (1L10.30)

Description:

Cavendish balance experiment which can measure the value of G to within 10% or less. Note: This experiment takes about 90 minutes to perform so most instructors use the video instead.

Procedure or Operation Notes:

This takes at least a day or two to setup because the tension and torsion in the filament needs to relax and stabilize. What usually happens that the table gets bumped during this time which ruins the experiment.

Related Videos:

Here are two clips of Richard Feynman's lecture about Cavendish's experiment:

Here are two short clips explaining the experiment apparatus and method:

References, Comments, or Footnotes:

1) June 1798: Cavendish Weighs the World APS News, June 2008 (Volume 17, Number 6).

2) Cavendish Experiment [Harvard Natural Science Lecture Demonstrations].