Mechanical Universe Flashcards
What were the first inventions used to tell time? by which civs? which was more accurate
Sundials and water clocks. Mesopotamia. Water clock more accurate
What was the benefit of sundials as opposed to water clocks
portability
What were the disadvantages to water clocks
not portable, would freeze
Who inveted the candle clock
China
What was the benefit of the candle clock, disadvantages?
Works indoors and at night. Not portable, could start fires, expensive
How did a candle clock work
divided into hours. see how much candle is left
Which mechanism used the first alarm clock? who used it?
candle clocks, monks
What were the advantage and disadvantage of sand clocks?
accurate for short periods of time, but needed to be flipped for long time. glass could only be produced in forence therefore $$$
What is the greatest invention along with the plow and printing press
the mechanical clock
what was the abul abbas clock?
a clock put together by Islamic scholars based of Archimedes. mounted on a white elephant. first cuckoo clock. Mechanical bird would signal hour passing by
What was the su song clock
most complex mechanical computer of its time. similar to Archimedes. chinese
where does the word clock come from?
clocka, latin, means bell
Who created the first mechanical clock alarm? why?
Richard of Wallingford, to wake monks up
What is the astrarium
Giovanni de’dondi’s mechanical computer of 1364. Most complex computer of its time. contained motions of all planets, calenders
Why was the astrarium so important?
universe was represented as a machine for the first time in medieval context, let to scientific revolution
Who was john harrison
a carpenter in the 18th century who created a series of accurate clocks
What was the prize john Harrison had a lifelong dream of competing for?
longitude prize (20,000 euros). latitude easy to measure, longitude needed to be precise
What level of accuracy was required to measure time for figuring out the longitudes of travel
1s per day, best at the time was 20 min per day
What were the series of clocks that Harrison made called
Marine clocks, H series
What is the story of john harrisons applying his clocks to the committee for the longitude prize
H4 claimed to be luck and negatives canceling out. H5, was successful enough. New rules, needed two identical time pieces, King forced parliament to pay pension.
What was different about the H4?
it was a wrist watch
How was the accuracy of the H4 confirmed
Taken by his son on voyage to Jamaica
What did james cook say about his h4
too accurate, cannot risk it being captured by other nations
how long was H5 most accurate clock in the world? how accurate was it
4 seconds every ten days. almost 200 years
