Why the clock hands turn clockwise?

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SUMMARY

The clockwise movement of clock hands is primarily attributed to historical conventions established by early timekeeping devices, particularly sundials. The first mechanical clocks were designed to mimic the direction of sundial shadows, which move clockwise in the northern hemisphere. This design choice became standardized, leading to the widespread adoption of clockwise rotation in clocks. While there are counterclockwise clocks, they are exceptions rather than the norm, as the clockwise direction has prevailed in modern timekeeping.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of mechanical clock design principles
  • Familiarity with sundial functionality and shadow movement
  • Knowledge of historical context regarding timekeeping devices
  • Basic grasp of angular motion and directionality
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  • Research the history of timekeeping devices and their evolution
  • Explore the mechanics of sundials and their influence on modern clocks
  • Investigate the physics of angular motion and the right-hand rule
  • Examine cultural variations in timekeeping and clock design across different hemispheres
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Historians, clockmakers, educators, and anyone interested in the evolution of timekeeping and its cultural implications.

  • #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
 
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  • #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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