Newtonian gravitational constant G

E4996

The Newtonian gravitational constant G is the fundamental physical constant that quantifies the strength of gravitational attraction between masses in classical and relativistic theories of gravity.


Statements (48)
Predicate Object
instanceOf fundamental constant
gravitational constant
physical constant
alsoKnownAs Newtonian constant of gravitation
universal gravitational constant
appearsIn Poisson equation for Newtonian gravity
appearsInEquation Einstein field equations (via κ = 8πG/c^4)
F = G m1 m2 / r^2
g = G M / r^2
∇^2Φ = 4πGρ
appearsInLaw Newton's law of universal gravitation
appearsInTheory Newtonian gravity
classical mechanics
general relativity
CODATA2022StandardUncertainty 0.00015×10^-11 m^3 kg^-1 s^-2
CODATA2022Value 6.67430×10^-11 m^3 kg^-1 s^-2
dependsOn none of the properties of specific materials
dimension L^3 M^-1 T^-2
fieldOfUse astrophysics
cosmology
geophysics
metrology
governs gravitational attraction between macroscopic bodies
gravitational attraction between point masses
strength of gravitational potential Φ
hasMeasurementDifficulty one of the least precisely known fundamental constants
hasSign positive
historicalExperiment Cavendish experiment
historicallyMeasuredBy Henry Cavendish
independentOf choice of units for mass, length, and time (up to conversion factors)
isMeasuredBy Cavendish-type torsion balance experiments
atom interferometry experiments
pendulum experiments
isPositive true
isUniversal true
quantityType coupling constant
relatedToConstant Planck constant h
speed of light c
relativeStandardUncertainty 2.2×10^-5
role quantifies strength of gravitational interaction
SIUnit m^3 kg^-1 s^-2
symbol G
usedFor calculating orbital dynamics
determining planetary masses
modeling gravitational fields of celestial bodies
usedToDefine Planck length
Planck mass
Planck time

Referenced by (5)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Newtonian gravitational constant G ("universal gravitational constant")
Newtonian gravitational constant G ("Newtonian constant of gravitation")
alsoKnownAs
Bekenstein bound ("Newtonian gravitational constant")
Bekenstein–Hawking entropy ("Newtonian gravitational constant")
usesConstant
Einstein field equations
constant

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