ClimateSeptember 4, 2026
gravimeter
gruh-VIH-mih-ter
Definition
A scientific instrument used to measure the strength of the local gravitational field at a specific location.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'gravitas' (weight) and the Greek suffix '-metron' (measure). It was coined in the 19th century to describe devices designed to measure gravitational pull.
In the news
In this article, researchers use a gravimeter to detect and map hidden masses of ice beneath rocky debris, as it can sense the density difference between ice and surrounding rock.
A Billion Tons of Ice Are Hiding Under Utah, Study Finds
Read the full article ↗ScienceAlert