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"Clell Harmon" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 11 Apr 2006 18:05:25 GMT, (Bob) wrote:

On Tue, 11 Apr 2006 16:27:56 GMT, Clell Harmon
wrote:
Other than on the theoretical subatomic scale, there is no
gravitational constant. Every time you move the masses effecting you
and being effected by you changes. [earlier post]

Ignoring the obvious 'you can't prove a negative', please
demonstrate the constance of any gravitational field outside of
theoretical physics... In as much as every single mass in the
universe is attracting every other mass in the universe, I double dog
dare you to demonstrate the constance of any single field... Also
while you're at it, measure it to the exclusion of all the others.

You really don't get it, do you. The gravitational constant isn't a
statement that the force of gravity is constant everywhere. It doesn't say
that, at a given place, the force of gravity is constant. The gravitational
constant is a term in an equation which essentially is a conversion factor.
It is difficult to measure, true, but that isn't because it is fluctuating
at a rapid rate.
From Wikipedia, and pretty much according to every physics book I've seen.

According to the law of universal gravitation, the attractive force between
two bodies is proportional to the product of their masses and inversely
proportional to the square of the distance between them.


In SI units, it is where N is Newtons (a unit of force), m is metre, and kg
is kilograms. The gravitational constant is a dimensional conversion factor.
It is based on the assumption that the law of universal gravitation is
correct. Are you saying that it isn't? That sometimes the gravitational
attraction between two masses follows an inverse 2.01 power law? Or that
sometimes it is 1.0000000000000001 times as strong as at other times, at
least in Paramus?

The Gravitational Constant is precisely that number which you need to plug
into the equation for the law of universal gravitation, given your systems
of measurements units, to get the force right. If we measure distance in
Smoots, time in Martian sidereal years, mass in multiples of a standard
reference "I Corrected Henry" t-shirts, and force in kips, you will get a
different value for the Constant, but it will remain constant.

There is even a system of measurement where the gravitational constant
equals one. (Plank units)