Fri Jan 02 00:30:00 UTC 2026: Here’s a summary of the text, followed by a rewritten news article:

Summary:

The text is from the January 2, 2026, e-paper of “The Hindu,” an Indian publication. It includes a listing of some of its regular features: “The View From India,” “First Day First Show,” “Today’s Cache,” “Science For All,” “Data Point,” “Health Matters,” and “The Hindu On Books.” It also features a “Question Corner” article explaining how smartphones use accelerometers and gyroscopes to determine their orientation. Accelerometers measure acceleration and gravity to determine which way is up, while gyroscopes use the Coriolis effect on a vibrating mass to measure the phone’s rotation.

News Article:

How Does Your Phone Know Up From Down? The Hindu Explains.

NEW DELHI, INDIA – January 2, 2026 – Ever wondered how your smartphone knows which way to orient the screen? A new article in today’s edition of “The Hindu’s” e-paper, delves into the inner workings of this seemingly simple function. The “Question Corner” feature breaks down the science behind accelerometers and gyroscopes, the key components responsible for your phone’s spatial awareness.

According to the article, accelerometers detect acceleration and the direction of gravity. Inside the phone, a chip’s parts shift slightly in the presence of acceleration or gravity. By measuring these shifts along different axes (x, y, and z), the phone’s software can determine its orientation relative to the earth.

But knowing which way is up is only part of the equation. Gyroscopes, also microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) with a small vibrating mass on a chip, enable phones to detect rotation. The phone causes the mass to vibrate at a specific frequency. When the phone rotates, the Coriolis effect deflects the vibrating mass sideways. Microscopic sensors and electrodes detect this sideways motion, converting it into electrical signals that the phone uses to calculate angular velocity – how fast the phone is turning and in what direction.

The detailed explanation provides a valuable insight into the advanced technology packed into our everyday devices, a topic “The Hindu” covers in its “Science For All” newsletter. Other features in today’s e-paper include “The View From India,” “First Day First Show,” “Today’s Cache,” “Data Point,” “Health Matters,” and “The Hindu On Books”.

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