this post was submitted on 06 Feb 2026
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The mountain that weighed the Earth (signoregalilei.com)
submitted 3 months ago by CombatWombatEsq@lemmy.world to c/science@lemmy.world
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[–] mcavoya@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago

Nice article, easy read.

[–] Multiplexer@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Nice article!

Also mentions the Cavendish torsion pendulum experiment.

That awakens fond memories, as I did that experiment myself some time ago during physics practical training.
Goal wasn't determining the mass of the Earth though, but the value of the gravitational constant.

[–] A_A@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago

... The first experiment to do this decently decided to use a mountain, specifically Schiehallion in Scotland, in 1774. ...

Universal gravitational attraction also operates from the masses of mountains ... bright early idea for an experiment.