Charles Explorer logo
🇬🇧

Gravitation reveals the mysteries of the underground - or what has changed and not changed since Isaac Newton

Publication at Faculty of Science |
2010

Abstract

The theoretical basis of gravimetry remain Newton's laws formulated in the 17th century, they are true today as then, and do not change. What is changing, and what allow to use gravimetry in a wide range of practical tasks, it is the precision of gravity measurements.At the time of Isaac Newton, the changes in gravitational acceleration were determined using a pendulum clocks with an accuracy of about 10-2 m/s2.

Present-day field gravity meters measure gravity with the sensitivity of 10-8 m/s2. Usefulness of modern gravimetry is demonstrated by the example of finding the exact position of the historic mining shaft Vilemína in Lukavice near Chrudim.