Reflections on a measurement of the gravitational constant using a beam balance and 13 tons of mercury

Abstract

In 2006, a final result of a measurement of the gravi- tational constant G performed by researchers at the University of Zürich, Switzerland, was published. A value of G =6.674252(122)×10 −11  m 3  kg −1  s −2 was obtained after an experimental effort that lasted over one decade. Here, we briefly summarize the measurement and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of this approach.