| Abstract: | A quantitative analysis was made of 13 experiments carried out at different times with the aim of determining the Newtonian gravitational constant G. Traces of a gravitational screening effect were found to be present in experiments to determine G. There was no quantitative error in the experiment of Majorana. One of the major reasons for the low accuracy of determinations of the gravitational constant is the failure to take account of the influence of the Earth on such experiments. An approximate expression is given for the screening function of the Earth. A prediction has been made of values of G for a new experiment whose preparation is nearing completion in Switzerland. Deceased. Translated from Izmeritel'naya Tekhnika, No. 10, pp. 17–23, October, 1999. |
