BIG G: Proposal to Define an Exact Value for the Gravitational Constant

The Newtonian constant of gravitation, G (often referred to as "big G"), is one of the most important of the universal fundamental physical constants. However, its value is the least well-determined of all such constants. This is because G is very difficult to measure reliably. Even though the gravitational force is responsible for star and galaxy formation on the massive scale of the universe, the force itself is minuscule on the tiny scale of the laboratory masses which must be used in the measurement. Consequently, its experimental value is prone to a high degree of inaccuracy. Moreover, it is the viewpoint of most physicists that G is not related to the other fundamental physical constants by any theory or understanding that is currently available. Therefore, it is thought that the value of G can only be obtained by measurement, and not from evaluating it in terms of other fundamental constants whose values are known with much greater precision and accuracy. The work presented in the book is an attempt to break through this mental barrier by demonstrating through numerical analysis that G is definitely related to the other fundamental constants. Consequently, it is possible to propose an exact value for G (to nine significant figures) that is obtainable from evaluation instead of from measurement.