Accelerometer for reduced gravity applications

An accelerometer system for reduced gravity applications, comprising:

• an accelerometer device comprising:
• a sealed capillary tube having a first end and a second end and a length therebetween, the capillary tube forming an interior lumen comprising at least one interior surface,
• wherein the capillary tube is partially filled with a capillary fluid, and
• wherein the capillary tube includes at least one corner running along at least a portion of the length at the edge of the at least one interior surface configured to enhance capillary flow;
• at least one sensor proximate to the accelerometer device configured to measure a fluid height or meniscus curvature due to capillary flow in the accelerometer device;
• and
• a computing system communicatively connected to the at least one sensor, comprising a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium with instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the processor, perform steps comprising:
• calculating a dimensionless Bond number based on the measured fluid height or meniscus curvature, wherein the dimensionless Bond number comprises a ratio between gravitational and surface forces;
• and
• calculating a gravitational force based on the Bond number.

A gravitational acceleration monitoring method, comprising:

• an accelerometer device comprising:
• a sealed capillary tube having a first end and a second end and a length therebetween, the capillary tube forming an interior lumen comprising at least one interior surface,
• wherein the capillary tube is partially filled with a capillary fluid, and
• wherein the capillary tube includes at least one corner running along at least a portion of the length at the edge of the at least one interior surface configured to enhance capillary flow;
• measuring a fluid height or meniscus curvature due to capillary flow;
• calculating a dimensionless Bond number based on the measured fluid height or meniscus curvature, wherein the dimensionless Bond number comprises a ratio between gravitational and surface forces;
• and
• calculating a gravitational force based on the Bond number.

An accelerometer device for reduced gravity applications, comprising:

• an enclosed bounded volume forming an interior lumen having at least one solid surface;
• at least one fluid within the lumen;
• wherein the fluid includes particles in suspension;
• and
• wherein a least one of the fluid and particles in suspension possess an intrinsic material property responsive to gravity.