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Accelerometers are devices which are used to measure or sense changes in velocity. Accelerometers are designed to be used over specific temperature and frequency ranges, as well their orientation relative to the change in velocity being measured.

In physics, acceleration is defined as the rate of change (or time derivative) of velocity. It is a vector quantity with dimension length/time². In SI units, this is meter/second².

There are several modes which accelerometers are used to measure.

• Linear Acceleration - is the measurement of the change in velocity in the single direction or vector
• Centrifugal Acceleration - is the acceleration caused by moving an object in a circle. For example, the force or tension applied to a string which is spinning about a fixed point.

Accelerometers are used in vibration analysis to measure the frequency, spectrum and amplitude of the vibration. Vibration may be measured to identify potential accelerated machine failures, structural failure due to fatigue, or simple product testing to verify a vibration resistant design . Accelerometers are used extensively within inertia navigation systems.

The most critical factor effecting measurements obtained by a accelerometer, is the mounting or installation of the device or instrumentation. All mechanical structures, regardless of how they are built, have mechanical resonance's the will result in a signal at the resonant frequency. Mechanical resonance cannot to eliminated completely. The resonant frequency of a mechanical structure should accounted for in design. Accelerometers are available in various mounting configurations. Care should be taken to properly locate and mount the accelerometer. Cavities and recesses, such that are present in housings and castings, can resonate. Sometimes, modifying suspect cavities by filling with a suitable filler can help to properly measure the structural integrity of a mechanical component or system.

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