The
gravitational constant varies along the iterations.
In order to link the spherical harmonic coefficients of the topographical potential with those of the geopotential in EGM08, it would be desirable to express the topographical potential using the same scale factor, namely the geocentric
gravitational constant GM.
If the
gravitational constant were infinitesimally different one way or the other, the force of gravity would be much lesser or much greater, with bad consequences for the evolution of stars and planets.
However, measurements of the most universally recognized constant, G, the
gravitational constant are known to vary leading today to a relative standard uncertainty CODATA value of G that is twelve times larger than measurements of the late 1980's.
The only way to work out the problem was to discover what scientists call the
gravitational constant - or The Big G.
Example [G.sub.1] will always denote the
gravitational constant. The number is important.
Newton's equation for the gravitational attraction of one body to another (see 1687) contained symbols for the
gravitational constant, the masses of the two bodies, the distance between them, and the acceleration of movement toward each other.
|Beta~ are physical constants (G =
gravitational constant; e = electric charge; C = velocity of light; etc.);
where G, M, [m.sub.p], [k.sub.B], and r corresponds to the
gravitational constant, the mass of the system, the particle mass, Boltzmann's constant, and the radius.