What is Accelerometer?
An '''accelerometer''' is a [[Machine|device]] used to measure [[proper acceleration]], which is the acceleration it experiences in relation to freefall, and is the acceleration felt by people and objects. Accelerometers are commonly made up of [https://aduk.de/blog/ultrasonic-motors-where-use-them-and-how-create-them-aduk-gmbh/ piezoelectric] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120110447/https://aduk.de/blog/ultrasonic-motors-where-use-them-and-how-create-them-aduk-gmbh/ |date=2022-01-20 }}, piezoresistive or capacitive components. Here are some examples of what accelerometers are used for: * As a component of [[Inertial navigation system|inertial navigation systems]] for aircraft and missiles. * Detecting and monitoring vibration in rotating machinery. * Making sure images on the screens of phones, tablets and digital cameras are always displayed upright. * Making the flight of drones more stable. * Coordinated accelerometers can be used to measure differences in proper acceleration, especially gravity, over their separation in space, such as the [[gradient]] of the [[gravitational field]]. This [[gravity gradiometry]] is useful because absolute gravity is a weak effect and depends on the local density of the Earth, which can constantly change. {{Physics-stub}} [[Category:Machines]] [[Category:Measuring tools]]