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Does shaking hurt accelerometer?

androidb

androidb

Well-Known Member
Maybe a silly question, but would shaking my Droid X cause any damage to it? I don't know how an accelerometer in a phone works and was curious if shaking it a lot would do any damage.
 
The purpose of an accelerometer is to measure motion. Unless there is a problem with the mounting I wouldn't imagine a problem with it. I would think the manufacturers test them to many Gs. You may have problems with other things...
 
My biggest concern was my phone was in my pocket while riding bumpy roller coasters all day yesterday.
 
i think you should be fine. but it's generally looked down upon to take your android devices on roller coaster rides or any mobile electronic devices for that matter. since it significantly increases the chances of it severely damaged.
 
I think Marefin was spot on. The phone is designed to be shaken. However, I would try to avoid excessive things like rollercoasters with it for reasons possibly other than the accelerameter. Similarly, I wouldn't take my laptop on a roller coaster, just to put in to perspective.
 
bostoniansurvivor said:
I think Marefin was spot on. The phone is designed to be shaken. However, I would try to avoid excessive things like rollercoasters with it for reasons possibly other than the accelerameter. Similarly, I wouldn't take my laptop on a roller coaster, just to put in to perspective.
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So how do you surf for porn while you're on roller coasters then?
 
The accelerometers used in phones are made to survive accidental drops without failing. The stress it undergoes when shaking the phone by hand or even riding a rough roller coaster shouldn't be nearly enough to damage it.
 
Tangent said:
The accelerometers used in phones are made to survive accidental drops without failing. The stress it undergoes when shaking the phone by hand or even riding a rough roller coaster shouldn't be nearly enough to damage it.
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This. There are very few moving parts in cell phones for this very reason. They are designed to be bumped and tossed around. I think its safe to say that other parts of your phone are more likely to get broken than the accelerometer.
 
Thanks for the replies. I needed to bring the phone to check work emails and make calls. I took a half day to go with the girlfriend and her kids to the park. I went on a water ride and got soaked with the X in my pocket. It was double wrapped into ziploc baggies and I had my hands over the pocket it was in the whole time....not a drop of water on it.
 
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