Cavendish

Definition

Cavendish refers to Henry Cavendish, an 18th-century British scientist who is famous for his experiment to measure the gravitational constant (G). His work paved the way for a more accurate understanding of Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Henry Cavendish conducted his experiment in 1798 using a torsion balance.
2. The Cavendish experiment was the first to measure the force of gravity between masses in a laboratory setting.
3. Cavendish's results allowed for the calculation of Earth's density and mass.
4. The measured value of the gravitational constant (G) was approximately $6.674 \times 10^{-11} \, \text{Nm}^2 / \text{kg}^2$.
5. Cavendish's method involved measuring tiny deflections in lead spheres caused by gravitational attraction.

Review Questions

• What scientific instrument did Henry Cavendish use in his famous experiment?
• How did Cavendish's experiment contribute to our understanding of Earth's mass and density?
• What is the value of the gravitational constant (G) that Cavendish measured?

Related terms

Gravitational Constant: $G$ is a proportionality constant used in Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation, with an approximate value of $6.674 \times 10^{-11} \, \text{Nm}^2 / \text{kg}^2$.

Torsion Balance: A device used to measure very small forces through the twisting or rotating motion it causes on a suspended bar.

Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation: $F = G\frac{m_1 m_2}{r^2}$ describes the force of gravity between two masses separated by a distance $r$.