A proof mass or test mass is a known quantity of
mass
Mass is an Intrinsic and extrinsic properties, intrinsic property of a physical body, body. It was traditionally believed to be related to the physical quantity, quantity of matter in a body, until the discovery of the atom and particle physi ...
used in a
measuring instrument
Instrumentation is a collective term for measuring instruments, used for indicating, measuring, and recording physical quantities. It is also a field of study about the art and science about making measurement instruments, involving the related ...
as a reference for the measurement of an unknown quantity.
A mass used to
calibrate a
weighing scale
A scale or balance is a device used to measure weight or mass. These are also known as mass scales, weight scales, mass balances, massometers, and weight balances.
The traditional scale consists of two plates or bowls suspended at equal d ...
is sometimes called a ''calibration mass'' or ''calibration weight''.
A proof mass that
deforms a
spring in an
accelerometer
An accelerometer is a device that measures the proper acceleration of an object. Proper acceleration is the acceleration (the rate of change (mathematics), rate of change of velocity) of the object relative to an observer who is in free fall (tha ...
is sometimes called the ''seismic mass''. In a convective accelerometer, a fluid proof mass may be employed.
See also
*
Calibration
In measurement technology and metrology, calibration is the comparison of measurement values delivered by a device under test with those of a calibration standard of known accuracy. Such a standard could be another measurement device of known ...
, checking or adjustment by comparison with a standard
*
Control variable
A control variable (or scientific constant) in scientific experimentation is an experimental element which is constant (controlled) and unchanged throughout the course of the investigation. Control variables could strongly influence experimental ...
, 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
Accelerometers
Measurement
Mass
Units of mass
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