Proof mass

A proof mass or test mass is a known quantity of mass used in a measuring instrument as a reference for the measurement of an unknown quantity. ^[1]

A mass used to calibrate a weighing scale is sometimes called a calibration mass or calibration weight.

A proof mass that deforms a spring in an accelerometer is sometimes called the seismic mass. ^[2] In a convective accelerometer, a fluid proof mass may be employed. ^[3]

See also

• Calibration, checking or adjustment by comparison with a standard
• Control variable, the experimental element that is constant and unchanged throughout a scientific investigation
• Test particle, an idealized model of an object in which all physical properties are assumed to be negligible, except for the property being studied

References

1. Vittorio, Salvatore A. (October 2001). "Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) Glossary". CSA Illumina . Archived from the original on January 6, 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
2. Johnson, Curtis D. (1997). "Accelerometer Principles". Process Control Instrumentation Technology . Prentice Hall. ISBN   0-13-441305-9. Archived from the original on January 7, 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
3. Mukherjee, Rahul; Basu, Joydeep; Mandal, Pradip; Guha, Prasanta Kumar (2017). "A review of micromachined thermal accelerometers". Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering . 27 (12): 123002. arXiv: 1801.07297 . Bibcode:2017JMiMi..27l3002M. doi:10.1088/1361-6439/aa964d. S2CID   116232359.