Early Timekeeping Devices
Before clocks, ancient civilizations used sundials, water clocks, and candle clocks to measure time. These relied on natural elements like sunlight and water flow, providing a rough estimation of hours.
Medieval Mechanical Clocks
The first mechanical clocks appeared in the late 13th century in Europe. They lacked faces, striking hours with bells. Monasteries used them to regulate prayer times, crucial in daily monastic life.
The Clock's Inventor
The identity of the clock's original inventor remains unclear. However, the earliest craftsmen were likely monks or blacksmiths, with Richard of Wallingford creating a notable astronomical clock in St. Albans by 1336.
Evolution to Pendulum Clocks
In 1656, Christiaan Huygens, a Dutch scientist, invented the pendulum clock. It was revolutionary for its accuracy, reducing error from hours to minutes per day, a standard for over 300 years.
Miniaturization and Watches
The 16th century brought miniaturization, leading to the first pocket watches. By the 17th century, balance springs improved accuracy, setting the stage for the wristwatch's popularity in the 20th century.
Atomic Clock Superiority
In 1949, the first atomic clock, based on the vibrations of cesium atoms, was developed. It redefined the second in 1967 and is now the standard for timekeeping, vital for GPS and internet synchronization.
Timekeeping's Future
Optical lattice clocks, the future of timekeeping, promise even greater precision. They could redefine the second once again, improving technologies dependent on ultra-accurate time, like quantum computing and deep-space navigation.
Which devices measured time before clocks?
Sundials, water and candle clocks
Hourglasses and pendulum clocks
Mechanical and atomic clocks
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