Accelerometer

Definition:

An accelerometer is a device that measures the proper acceleration of the structure. Accelerometers are used to measure the motion and vibration of a structure that is exposed to dynamic loads.

Explanation:

Dynamic loads originate from a variety of sources.  Measures weight per unit of (test) mass, a quantity also known as specific force, or g-force. Another way of stating this is that by measuring weight, an accelerometer measures the acceleration of the free-fall reference frame relative to itself. Single- and multi-axis models of accelerometer are available to detect magnitude and direction of the proper acceleration (or g-force), as a vector quantity, and can be used to sense orientation (because direction of weight changes), coordinate acceleration (so long as it produces g-force or a change in g-force), vibration, shock, and falling (a case where the proper acceleration changes, since it tends toward zero).