RESEARCH OF THE MEASUREMENT OF GRAVITATIONAL ACCELERATION USING A TRANSFORMER GRAVIMETER

Abstract

This article presents the methodology and results of experimental studies aimed at measuring the gravitational acceleration using a newly designed transformer gravimeter. The work outlines the relevance of high-precision determination of the gravitational acceleration g for solving numerous geophysical, geological, and engineering tasks, and highlights the limitations of existing ground-based gravimeters in terms of accuracy and measurement speed. The proposed approach employs a ballistic measurement method in which a test body with magnetic properties moves freely through a transparent tube equipped with inductive coils and a controlled electromagnetic release mechanism. The paper describes the structure of the experimental setup, the operating principles of the measurement channels, and the mathematical foundations used to calculate g based on time delays of induced voltage pulses and coordinate-based trajectory approximation using a video registration subsystem. A dual-channel system is implemented to enhance accuracy: the first channel determines g from signals induced in the coils, while the second uses pulsed illumination and video tracking to calculate coordinates of the falling body and apply a least-squares approximation. The results obtained from both channels are combined to form a refined estimate of gravitational acceleration with improved precision. Experimental measurements were carried out for different distances between the inductive coils, and corresponding oscillograms and calculated values of g are presented. The study confirms that the proposed transformer gravimeter and measurement methodology significantly improve the accuracy and performance of gravitational acceleration measurements, demonstrating their practical applicability for advanced gravimetric research.