Why the clock hands turn clockwise?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the reasons why clock hands turn clockwise, exploring historical, cultural, and mechanical perspectives. Participants consider various theories, including the influence of sundials, the nature of mechanical clocks, and the implications of handedness in design.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that the clockwise direction of clock hands may stem from the design of early clocks modeled after sundials.
  • Others propose that the prevalence of right-handedness in humans could have influenced the standardization of clockwise movement.
  • A participant mentions that clocks can be made to run counterclockwise, raising questions about the mechanics involved.
  • There is a discussion about whether the direction of clock hands is arbitrary or defined by convention.
  • Some participants humorously speculate about the effects of geography, such as whether clocks turn differently in the southern hemisphere.
  • A later reply challenges the sundial theory, suggesting that historical context and standardization played significant roles in the adoption of clockwise movement.
  • Another participant humorously notes the irony in discussing the direction of clock hands, referencing cultural reading patterns and the layout of numbers on a clock face.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a variety of viewpoints, with no clear consensus on the primary reason for the clockwise movement of clock hands. Multiple competing theories are presented, and the discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Some claims rely on historical assumptions and cultural contexts that may not be universally applicable. The discussion includes speculative reasoning and humor, which may affect the interpretation of the arguments presented.

  • #31
Perhaps clockwise was chosen because this is the direction cesium atoms spin in an atomic clock :confused:

(In the northern hemisphere, at least ... )

p.s. I am joking!
 
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  • #32
rewebster said:
what's always been funny to me is that it seems that the first hour and minute of the day should be 1:01 , not 12:01 ---12 is the highest number ---that didn't ever make sense

It's how many hours/minutes have passed. Soooo the most correct way is obviously 0:00. However we liked to be retarded and use 12 hour time :).

1:01 signifies that 1 hour and 1 minute have already passed, and we're on our way to 1 hour and 2 minutes.
 
  • #33
lisab said:
If your watch is on your right arm, what direction do your hands turn :-p ?
Beats me with a stick. My watch is on my left arm.
 
  • #34
moose said:
It's how many hours/minutes have passed. Soooo the most correct way is obviously 0:00. However we liked to be retarded and use 12 hour time :).

1:01 signifies that 1 hour and 1 minute have already passed, and we're on our way to 1 hour and 2 minutes.

so 12:31 means that 12 hours and 31 minutes have passed?
 
  • #35
Ancient Roman water clock...then again maybe not

http://z.about.com/d/couponing/1/7/i/u/water_powered_clock.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #36
I found it---there's an entry in Wiki---the assistant to the guy that invented the clock was named Wise---James Wise.
 
  • #37
rewebster said:
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
 
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  • #38
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
 
  • #39
BobG said:
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."
 
  • #40
rewebster said:
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.
 
  • #41
BobG said:
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.
 
  • #42
B. Elliott said:
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.
 
  • #43
DaveC426913 said:
Me, I'd make them spell out the time. Either an analog or a digital (LED-like) display.

Now that is a novel idea. :cool:
 
  • #44
Chi Meson said:
Sometimes it's hard to sell irony online.:biggrin:I was JOKING!

That's what smileys are for :-p
 
  • #45
B. Elliott said:
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).
 
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  • #46
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.
 
  • #47
Borek said:
That's what smileys are for :-p

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

see?
 
  • #48
For some reason even :sad: doesn't exist. That's why I decided to use substitute :frown:
 
  • #49
Chi Meson said:
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.
 
  • #50
:I kinda liked Tears for Fears:
:a pickled beet stain!:
:Did I leave the guinea pig near the microwave?::eek:

ooh, got one!
 

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