What is "inclinometer"

n. 1 An instrument that displays the angle of an aircraft relative to the horizon. 2 An instrument that measures magnetic dip; a dip circle. 3 A surveying instrument that measures angles of inclination or elevation; a clinometer.

1. n. an instrument showing the angle that an aircraft makes with the horizon

2. a measuring instrument for measuring the angle of magnetic dip (as from an airplane) [syn: dip circle]

3. an instrument used by surveyors in order to measure an angle of inclination or elevation [syn: clinometer]

A clinometer or inclinometer is an instrument for measuring angles of slope (or tilt), elevation or depression of an object with respect to gravity. It is also known as a tilt meter, tilt indicator, slope alert, slope gauge, gradient meter, gradiometer, level gauge, level meter, declinometer, and pitch & roll indicator. Clinometers measure both inclines (positive slopes, as seen by an observer looking upwards) and declines (negative slopes, as seen by an observer looking downward) using three different units of measure: degrees, percent, and topo (see Grade (slope)#Nomenclature for details). Astrolabes are inclinometers that were used for navigation and locating astronomical objects from ancient times to the Renaissance.

In aircraft, the "ball" in turn coordinators or turn and bank indicators is sometimes referred to as an inclinometer.