Magnetofluidic accelerometer with partial filling of cavity with magnetic fluid

A sensor includes a housing and a magnetic fluid within the housing that incompletely fills the housing. An inertial body is in contact with the magnetic fluid. Displacement of the inertial body relative to the magnetic fluid is indicative of acceleration on the housing. The acceleration includes linear and/or angular acceleration. The inertial body can be an air bubble, or a dissimilar liquid. A plurality of magnets are mounted on the housing, wherein the magnetic fluid is positioned in droplets between the magnets and the inertial body. The magnetic fluid can be a single droplet between each magnet and the inertial body, or multiple droplets between each magnet and the inertial body. The remaining volume in the housing can be filled with a non-magnetic fluid.