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

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  • 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

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  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.