6.2.2 Experimental Determination of Constant of Gravitation G. Boys’ Method The first accurate experiment for finding the value of gravitation constant G, was performed by Cavendish in 1798, using a torsion balance, The mean value of Gas a result of 29 different sets of experiments was 6.56 x 10 cgs units. Boys eliminated the difficulties and errors of the Cavendish method in the apparatus that was de- signed by him in 1895 but the principle of the method remained the same. ‘The apparatus consists of a mirror strip PQ, which is suspended from a torsion head by a quartz fibre (Fig. 6.4(a)). From the ends of the mirror strip are suspended Plo two small gold spheres, A and B, by quartz fibres of unequal length. The mirror strip and the balls are enclosed in a narrow tube, thus eliminating the air draughts altogether. The quartz fibres are fectly elastic, stronger than steel, and the twisting torque required to twist through a unit angle is very small. Two identical lead spheres C and D of mass M each are suspended outside the tube from way the revolving lid of an outer coaxial tube such that the centers of A and C are at the same horizontal , level and the ceners of B and D are at the same TH 6M8) Hone’ nettod for horizontal level, Cis in front of A, and Dis behind B. The distance between the centers of A and C is. equal to the distance between the centers of B and D. A telescope is used to measure the deflection using a lamp and scale arrangement. - ‘The lid is rotated so as to put the large lead balls C and D on the opposite sides of the small gold spheres A and B, but not in line with the mirror strip till the deflection is maximum, Next, the lid is rotated so as to set the large balls in a similar position on the other sides of the corresponding small gold balls till there results maximum deflection. A, B, C, and D are the four balls in the position of maximum deflection 8, radian, Fig. 6.4(b). 0 is the middle point of the mirror strip whose length is equal to 2 1. Calling OC = a, ZBOC = cz OE is érawn perpendicular to CB produced.Fig.6.4(0) Calculation of deflection couple Now, according to the law of cosines we get BC = (a? +1? ~2alcos a)? According to the law of sines of a triangle, we have This gives Also, ina _ BC Sin ZBCO ~ T tsina sin ZBCO = 7 al sine OE = asin 2BCO = ER GMm Catrats A with a force SMA and D atracts B withthe same force in the cpposite direction, The two equal and opposite forces on A and B constitute a couple of moment Gin x 20E. This couple produces a deflection in the mirror PQ about the suspension fibre as axis, which in turn gets twisted. As a result of the twist, an clastic restoring couple is set up in the fibre and the mirror comes to rest when the deflecting and the restoring couples balance each other. The deflecting couple = 2GMmal sin (a+r al 0s ‘The restoring couple = c@ (a? +1?~2al cos a 2Minal sin @ G Boys obtained the value of G = 6.6576 x 10 cgs units. Advantages of Boys’ Over Cavendish’s Method 2 ‘The apparatus size was greatly reduced and enclosed in a vessel, thus avoid- ing the disturbances caused by air currents. ‘The apparatus being small in extent, the temperature difference over the small size will be small, and thus, minimize the convection currents. ‘The spheres A and B are at different levels and due to the large difference in their heights, the cross attractions between A and B as well as between C and D are made negligible. A quartz fibre used as suspension is both fine and strong. Itis perfectly elastic and requires small couple per unit twist with the result that the deflection of the mirror strip is large and proportional to the applied torque. ‘The use of the lamp and scale arrangement facilitates an accurate measure- ment of deflection.