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How well do we know the value of G?
G is the constant (well, as far as we know) of nature whose value is known with the least precision. How well do we know it? Presumably only Cavendish-type experiments can measure it directly. Other measurements of G, particularly astronomical ones, probably actually measure GM, or GMm. In some cases, those quantities might be known to more precision than G itself. Suppose G were to vary with time, or place, or (thinking of something like MOND here) with the acceleration in question. Could that be detected, or would it be masked by wrong assumptions about the mass(es) involved? Just as an example, would a smaller value of G and correspondingly higher masses be compatible with LIGO observations? |
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