The most common type of gravimeter* used in exploration surveys is based on a simple mass-spring system. If we hang a mass on a spring, the force of gravity will stretch the spring by an amount that is proportional to the gravitational force. It can be shown that the proportionality between the stretch of the spring and the gravitational acceleration is the magnitude of the mass hung on the spring divided by a constant, k, which describes the stiffness of the spring. The larger k is, the stiffer the spring is, and the less the spring will stretch for a given value of gravitational acceleration.
Like pendulum measurements, we can not determine k accurately enough to estimate the absolute value of the gravitational acceleration to 1 part in 40 million. We can, however, estimate variations in the gravitational acceleration from place to place to within this precision. To be able to do this, however, a sophisticated mass-spring system is used that places the mass on a beam and employs a special type of spring known as a zero-length spring.
Instruments of this type are produced by several manufacturers, including LaCoste and Romberg, Scintrex (IDS), and Texas Instruments (Worden Gravity Meter). Modern gravimeters are capable of measuring changes in the Earth's gravitational acceleration down to 1 part in 1000 million. This translates to a precision of about 0.001 mgal. Such a precision can be obtained only under optimal conditions when the recommended field procedures are carefully followed.
**
Worden Gravity Meter
LaCoste and Romberg Gravity Meter
**Figure from Introduction to Geophysical Prospecting, M. Dobrin and C. Savit
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