What Is an Accelerometer?
1 min read
Quick answer
An accelerometer is a small MEMS sensor that measures an object's acceleration and, thanks to gravity, its tilt.
How Does It Work?
Inside it there's a tiny mass suspended on springs. When the object accelerates, this mass shifts, and this movement is read as a capacitance change.
Axis Count
| Axes | Measures |
|---|---|
| 1 axis | A single direction |
| 3 axes | X, Y, Z (3D) |
Where Is It Used?
Phone screen rotation, step counters, game controllers, vibration/impact detection, burglar alarms and motion tracking inside an IMU.
Choosing the g Range
Accelerometers come in different measurement ranges: ±2g suits precise tilt measurement, while ±16g suits hard impacts and vibration. A wide range measures larger acceleration but the resolution drops; it's chosen by application.
Common Mistakes
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an accelerometer measure tilt?+
Yes; it can calculate stationary tilt using the gravity vector.
What's the difference between an accelerometer and a gyroscope?+
An accelerometer measures linear acceleration/tilt, a gyroscope measures angular rate (rotation).
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