Presentation
Sensitivity Considerations for a Short-range Test of the Gravitational Inverse-square Law
American Physical Society (APS)
(2014)
Abstract
The gravitational Inverse-Square Law (ISL) has been veri ed from in nity down
to the 0.1 mm regime. Several theoretical scenarios predict possible violations of
the ISL at short distances. At HSU we are developing an experiment that will test
gravitational interactions below 50 microns. The experiment will be approximately
null by using a stepped torsion pendulum and a large attractor plate. Hence, in the
approximation that the attractor mass is an in nite sheet of matter, the Newtonian
gravitational force is independent of separation distance between the pendulum and
attractor. The experiment will measure the torque applied to the pendulum as the
attractor mass is oscillated nearby. The size and distance dependence of the torque
variation will provide a means to determine any deviations from the ISL at untested
scales. The mass distribution of the pendulum and attractor determine the sensitiv-
ity of the experiment. This talk will focus on the investigation of the ISL and the
experimental sensitivity. Gauss' Law of Gravitation, the in nite plane approxima-
tion, Yukawa potential, and Newtonian vs. Yukawa torque will be discussed.
Keywords
- Gravity,
- inverse square law,
- relativity
Disciplines
Publication Date
April 7, 2014
Location
Savannah, GA
Citation Information
David Alan Smith, Crystal Cardenas, A. Conrad Harter, Dr. CD Hoyle, et al.. "Sensitivity Considerations for a Short-range Test of the Gravitational Inverse-square Law" American Physical Society (APS) (2014) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/david-smith/5/
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