Method of generating and measuring static small force using down-slope component of gravity

A method of generating and measuring static small forces at the micro-Newton level is proposed. In the method, the down-slope component of gravity acting on a mass on an inclined plane is used as a static force. To realize a linear motion of the mass with a small friction, an aerostatic linear bearing is used. The forces acting on the mass, such as the down-slope component of gravity and the dynamic frictional force, are determined by the levitation mass method. In an experiment, a static small force of approximately 183 mu N is generated and measured with a standard uncertainty of approximately 2 mu N. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.