UPSC Prelims 2023 Question:

Consider the following actions

1. Detection of car crash/collision which results in the deployment of airbags almost instantaneously
2. Detection of accidental free fall of a laptop towards the ground which results in the immediate turning off of the hard drive
3. Detection of the tilt of the smartphone which results in the rotation of display between portrait and landscape mode.
   
   

In how many of the above actions is the function of accelerometer required?

Explanation:

• An accelerometer is an electronic sensor that measures the acceleration forces acting on an object, in order to determine the object’s position in space and monitor the object’s movement.
  
  

• In the case of a car crash/collision, the accelerometer is used to detect the sudden deceleration of the vehicle and trigger the deployment of the airbags. So, point 1 is correct.
  
  

• In the case of a laptop falling, the accelerometer is used to detect the sudden change in motion and trigger the immediate turning off of the hard drive to prevent damage to the data. So, point 2 is correct.
  
  

• An accelerometer is also required for the detection of the tilt of the smartphone which results in the rotation of the display between portrait and landscape mode. So, point 3 is correct.
  
  

Therefore, option (3) is the correct answer. 

Subject: Science & Technology | Miscellaneous(s&t)