Mechanical Universe Flashcards

1
Q

What were the first inventions used to tell time? By which civilization? Which was more accurate.

A

Sundials and water clocks, Mesopotamia c. 3500 BC. Water clock more accurate.

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2
Q

What was a benefit of sundials as opposed to water clocks?

A

Portability.

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3
Q

What were disadvantages to water clocks?

A

Not portable, would freeze.

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4
Q

Who invented the candle clock?

A

China.

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5
Q

What was a benefit of the candle clock? Disadvantages?

A

Works indoors and at night.

Not so portable, expensive, would start fires.

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6
Q

How did a candle clock work?

A

Candles were calibrated, divided into hours, hours would burn the stick down with candle flame.

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7
Q

Which clock mechanism was used as the first alarm clock? Who was this commonly used by?

A

Candle clock, monks.

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8
Q

What were advantages and disadvantages of sand clocks?

A

Accurate for short periods of time, but not for long (flipping required).
Hourglasses were expensive, only glass makers in Florence could produce it.

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9
Q

What is the greatest invention along with the plow and printing press?

A

The mechanical clock.

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10
Q

What was the Abul-Abbas clock?

A

A clock put together by Islamic scholars, with credit given to Archimedes. Mounted on a white elephant, made it special. First cuckoo clock, mechanical bird would signify every hour passing by.

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11
Q

What was the Su Song clock?

A

Most complex mechanical computer of its time, similar to Archimedes’ design, Chinese.

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12
Q

Where does the word clock come from?

A

Clocka, latin, means bell.

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13
Q

Who created the first mechanical clock with an alarm? Why?

A

Richard of Wallingford, to wake monks up with a bell early in the morning to pray.

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14
Q

What is the Astrarium?

A

Giovanni de’Dondi’s mechanical computer of 1364. Most complex computer of its time.

Contained motions of all planets, calendars.

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15
Q

Why was the Astrarium so important?

A

Universe was represented as a machine for the first time in a medieval context, led to scientific revolution.

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16
Q

Who was John Harrison?

A

A carpenter in the 18th century who created a series of accurate clocks.

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17
Q

What was the prize John Harrison had a lifelong dream of competing for?

A

The longitude prize.

18
Q

What level of accuracy was required to measure time for figuring out the longitudes of travel?

A

1 s/day.

19
Q

What level of accuracy is attributed to modern watches?

A

6 s/day.

20
Q

In the time of John Harrison, what was the level of accuracy for a typical clock?

A

1-20 mins/day on land.

21
Q

What were the series of clocks that Harrison made called?

A

Harrison H1 - H5.

22
Q

What is the story of John Harrison’s applying his clocks to the committee for the longitude prize?

A

Submitted H1 and the committee asked him why he, a carpenter was doing this? Gave him some money, told him to go build a chair, tells him they’ll tell him of the results soon. In meantime he built H2, and reapplied, same thing happened. Same thing happened all the way to H4. Did not get any results back until then.

23
Q

What was different about the H4?

A

It was a watch.

24
Q

How was the accuracy of the H4 confirmed?

A

They gave it to James Cook he confirmed it on his explorations.

25
Q

What did James Cook say about the H4?

A

Too good, too precious, empire would go down if it fell into the wrong hands.

26
Q

Based on Cook’s comments, what did the committee say to Harrison regarding H4?

A

Lied to him and said it wasn’t good enough, so as to not use it and lose it.

27
Q

When did the committee get back to Harrison about the H1? What was the result?

A

At the same time they told him the H4 was no good. Said the H1 was good.

28
Q

How accurate was the H5? How long was this the most accurate clock in the world?

A

Lost 4 seconds in 10 days, until 1968.

29
Q

Why did the committee never award Harrison the money for the longitude award?

A

When Harrison was old and dying they made a rule that the timepiece in question must have an identical copy, knowing Harrison couldn’t do this.

30
Q

How was Harrison ultimately rewarded for his clocks?

A

King George III made it a parliamentary measure to personally give him the money.

31
Q

What is Patek Phillipe co.?

A

A huge wristwatch maker, makers of the most complicated wristwatches on the planet.

32
Q

What is the most complicated watch as of right now? How accurate is it?

A

The Patek Philipe Calibre 89. Less accurate than a 20 dollar watch from Wal-Mart.

33
Q

What is technological regression?

A

The value of a technology not being valued for accuracy, but rather complexity of design. Such as Patek Phillipe.

34
Q

What are the time trials?

A

A test of the worlds best watches.

35
Q

Who dominated the time trials from 1700-1903?

A

Britain.

36
Q

What was the main value of a pocket watch?

A

A status symbol, defined you as a gentleman.

37
Q

Who dominated the time trials from 1903-1968?

A

Switzerland.

38
Q

What watch came along in 1968 to break the long standing accuracy record?

A

Seiko’s first quartz watch.

39
Q

How does a quartz watch work?

A

Powered by oscillator made of quartz, small low electrical current applied to quartz, oscillation turned into precise time intervals.

40
Q

What is the present day most accurate form of time keeping?

A

Atomic clock of cesium-133.

41
Q

Is time travel possible? How was this proven?

A

Yes, think Einstein! Two atomic clocks were taken on board airplanes travelling in different centripetal motions, noticed change in time.