Clocks and their relative speeds

  • Thread starter Thread starter mpx86
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Clocks Relative
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
2 replies · 2K views
mpx86
Messages
10
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


A watch gains 3 minutes every hour. If it is set right at 11 a.m. on February 21st, 2012, when will the hour hand of this defective watch and a correct watch be at the same position?
A)
9 p.m. on February 21st, 2012
B)
11 p.m. on February 28th, 2012
C)
11 a.m. on March 2nd, 2012
D)
11 a.m. on March 12th, 2012

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


[/B]
If the defective and the correct watch show the same time, the defective watch will have gained 12 hours, i.e., 720 minutes. Since it gains 3 minutes every hour, it will need 720/3 = 240 hours to gain 12 hours. In other words, both watches will show the same time after 10 days. Counting from 11 a.m. on February 21St, 2012, both watches will show the same time at 11 a.m. on March 2nd, 2012.

However, the watches would show same time when the difference between them is 480 hours, so C and D should be both correct..(however the book states option C as the only correct answer)
 
Physics news on Phys.org