Gyroscope vs. Accelerometer

Gyroscopenoun

an apparatus composed of a wheel which spins inside of a frame (gimbal) and causes the balancing of the frame in any direction or position. In the form of a gyroscopic stabilizer, used to help keep aircraft and ships steady.

Accelerometernoun

An instrument for measuring acceleration.

Gyroscopenoun

A rotating wheel, mounted in a ring or rings, for illustrating the dynamics of rotating bodies, the composition of rotations, etc. It was devised by Professor W. R. Johnson, in 1832, by whom it was called the rotascope.

Accelerometernoun

An instrument made for detecting and measuring vibrations.

Gyroscopenoun

A form of the above apparatus, invented by M. Foucault, mounted so delicately as to render visible the rotation of the earth, through the tendency of the rotating wheel to preserve a constant plane of rotation, independently of the earth's motion.

Accelerometernoun

An apparatus for measuring the velocity imparted by gunpowder.

Gyroscopenoun

rotating mechanism in the form of a universally mounted spinning wheel that offers resistance to turns in any direction

Accelerometernoun

an instrument for measuring the acceleration of aircraft or rockets

Gyroscope

A gyroscope (from Ancient Greek γῦρος gûros, and σκοπέω skopéō, ) is a device used for measuring or maintaining orientation and angular velocity. It is a spinning wheel or disc in which the axis of rotation (spin axis) is free to assume any orientation by itself.

‘circle’; ‘to look’;

Accelerometer

An accelerometer is a tool that measures proper acceleration. Proper acceleration is the acceleration (the rate of change of velocity) of a body in its own instantaneous rest frame; this is different from coordinate acceleration, which is acceleration in a fixed coordinate system.