Effectively a spring, a dashpot, or a combination of the two, arranged to minimize the acceleration of the mass of a mechanism or portion thereof with respect to its frame or support.

The spring type of shock absorber is generally used to protect delicate mechanisms, such as instruments, from direct impact or instantaneously applied loads. Such springs are often made of rubber or similar elastic material. See also Shock isolation.

An example of the dashpot type of shock absorber is the direct-acting shock absorber in an automotive spring suspension system (see illustration). Here the device is used to dampen and control a spring movement. The energy of the mass in motion is converted to heat by forcing a fluid through a restriction, and the heat is dissipated by radiation and conduction from the shock absorber. See also Vibration damping.
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