Sensors

A sensor is a tool that notices things around it. Sensors can feel heat, see light, hear sound, or sense movement. They turn what they notice into signals that a machine can understand. Sensors are inside many things we use every day. They help machines react to the world.

Kinds of Sensors

There are many kinds of sensors, each with its own job. A temperature sensor can tell how hot or cold it is. A motion sensor can spot when something moves. A light sensor reads how bright a room is. Cameras are sensors that capture pictures. Microphones are sensors that capture sound.

Where We Find Them

Your phone has lots of sensors inside it. One sensor knows when you turn the phone sideways so the picture flips. Another turns off the screen when you put the phone to your ear. Smoke alarms use sensors to find smoke in your home. Cars use sensors to help drivers park and avoid crashes.

Fun Facts

• A modern smartphone can have more than 10 different sensors inside it.
• Your own eyes and ears are natural sensors.
• Sensors on robots help them feel their way around a room.

Did You Know?

Some sensors are so sensitive they can detect a single drop of water or a tiny puff of gas in the air.