A motion detector is an electrical device that utilizes a sensor to detect nearby motion. Such a device is often integrated as a component of a system that automatically performs a task or alerts a user of motion in an area.

How does a motion sensor work?

Motion sensors are like flashlights sending out a beam of light but with motion-detecting infrared energy waves instead of light waves. Just like a light is brighter closer to the bulb, the infrared radiation is denser nearer to the device and it spreads out farther away.

What can a motion sensor be used for?

A motion sensor (or motion detector) is an electronic device that is designed to detect and measure movement. Motion sensors are used primarily in home and business security systems, but they can also be found in phones, paper towel dispensers, game consoles, and virtual reality systems.