Why the clock hands turn clockwise?

[rewebster]

I found it---there's an entry in Wiki---the assistant to the guy that invented the clock was named Wise---James Wise.

 

[edward]

I found it---there's an entry in Wiki---the assistant to the guy that invented the clock was named Wise---James Wise.

Here is the Wise clock

http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/museum/exhibit00/images/06_waterclock.jpg

 

[BobG]

If you plant the right flowers, you don't have to worry about what direction the hands turn.

6 a.m. Spotted cat's ear (opens)
7 a.m. African marigold (opens)
8 a.m. Mouse-ear hawkweed (opens)
9 a.m. Prickly sow thistle (closes)
10 a.m. Common nipplewort (closes)
11 a.m. Star-of-Bethlehem (opens)
Noon Passion flower (opens)
1 p.m. Childing pink (closes)
2 p.m. Scarlet pimpernel (closes)
3 p.m. Hawkbit (closes)
4 p.m. Small bindweed (closes)
5 p.m. White water lily (closes)
6 p.m. Evening primrose (opens)

Or, for a more exhaustive list: http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/hpg/envis/doc28.html

 

[lisab]

If you plant the right flowers, you don't have to worry about what direction the hands turn.

6 a.m. Spotted cat's ear (opens)
7 a.m. African marigold (opens)
8 a.m. Mouse-ear hawkweed (opens)
9 a.m. Prickly sow thistle (closes)
10 a.m. Common nipplewort (closes)
11 a.m. Star-of-Bethlehem (opens)
Noon Passion flower (opens)
1 p.m. Childing pink (closes)
2 p.m. Scarlet pimpernel (closes)
3 p.m. Hawkbit (closes)
4 p.m. Small bindweed (closes)
5 p.m. White water lily (closes)
6 p.m. Evening primrose (opens)

Or, for a more exhaustive list: http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/hpg/envis/doc28.html

"What time is it?"
"Half-past nipplewort."

 

[moose]

so 12:31 means that 12 hours and 31 minutes have passed?

It works perfectly with the 24 hour system... But with the 12 hour system, it uhh gets messed up.

 

[B. Elliott]

If you plant the right flowers, you don't have to worry about what direction the hands turn.

6 a.m. Spotted cat's ear (opens)
7 a.m. African marigold (opens)
8 a.m. Mouse-ear hawkweed (opens)
9 a.m. Prickly sow thistle (closes)
10 a.m. Common nipplewort (closes)
11 a.m. Star-of-Bethlehem (opens)
Noon Passion flower (opens)
1 p.m. Childing pink (closes)
2 p.m. Scarlet pimpernel (closes)
3 p.m. Hawkbit (closes)
4 p.m. Small bindweed (closes)
5 p.m. White water lily (closes)
6 p.m. Evening primrose (opens)

Or, for a more exhaustive list: http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/hpg/envis/doc28.html

It would be neat if you could make an arrangement consisting of groups of each species so that as time passes during the day, you'd effectively have a 'wave' garden. That would make for some interesting time-lapse videos.

 

[DaveC426913]

It would be neat if you could make an arrangement consisting of groups of each species so that as time passes during the day, you'd effectively have a 'wave' garden. That would make for some interesting time-lapse videos.

Me, I'd make them spell out the time. Either an analog or a digital (LED-like) display.

 

[B. Elliott]

Me, I'd make them spell out the time. Either an analog or a digital (LED-like) display.

Now that is a novel idea.

 

[Borek]

Sometimes it's hard to sell irony online.I was JOKING!

That's what smileys are for :tongue2:

 

[BobG]

It would be neat if you could make an arrangement consisting of groups of each species so that as time passes during the day, you'd effectively have a 'wave' garden. That would make for some interesting time-lapse videos.

They're trying that at Truman State University in Missouri. They created a http://www.botany.org/PlantScienceBulletin/psb-2006-52-1.php#Truman . It consists of a sundial with sections of flowers that open and close at certain times. It doesn't look all that impressive yet, but that's because it takes some work and experimentation to figure out which flowers are reliable and do well in your geographic area.

It might not ever look particularly impressive since a few of the more reliable plants are just flowering weeds (weeding every year is going to take a lot knowledge of plants).

 

[HallsofIvy]

In the northern hemisphere, or at least north of the tropic of capricorn, in order to look toward the sun you look south. And looking that way, as the day progresses, you will see the sun moving from your left to your right- in other words, the sun moves "clockwise". Since it was the sun that really determined time, early clocks were made to run the same way.

 

[Chi Meson]

That's what smileys are for :tongue2:

They don't make the right kind. Watch
:dryhumor:
:ironic:
:straightface:

see?

 

[Borek]

For some reason even :sad: doesn't exist. That's why I decided to use substitute

 

[Redbelly98]

They don't make the right kind. Watch
:dryhumor:
:ironic:
:straightface:

see?

Let me try a few ...

:happy as a clam:
:fit as a fiddle:
:thoughtfully pondering life's great mysteries:
:jubilantly ecstatic:
:thinking about what might have been:
:tired from loud neighbors playing stereo at 3 a.m.:
:wondering if boss notices I'm working long hours and weekends:

Hmmm, getting nothing here.

 

[Chi Meson]

:I kinda liked Tears for Fears:
:a pickled beet stain!:
:Did I leave the guinea pig near the microwave?:

ooh, got one!