Q2 of 17 Page 156

Collect information about time measuring devices that were used in the ancient times in different parts of the world. Prepare a brief write up on each one of them. The write up may include the name of the device, the place of its origin, the period when it was used, the unit in which the time was measured by it and a drawing or a photograph of the device, if available.

The time measuring devices that were used in the ancient times in different parts of the world are:


1. Sun Dial


2. Water clocks


3. Sand clocks.


Sun Dial:


This time measuring device uses a spot of light or shadow by the sun’s position on a reference scale. The prototypes of Sundials are seems to be originated in Russia and they were used in 1830s.



Water Clocks:



This time measuring device uses regulated water flow of liquid i.e. inflow or outflow of liquid to calculate the time. They are supposed to be existed in 16th Century in Egypt.


Sand Clocks:


The sand clocks are supposed to be invented at Alexandria about 150 B.C.



More from this chapter

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13

Which of the following distance-time graphs shows a truck moving with speed which is not constant?

(i)


(ii)


(iii)


(iv)

1

You can make your own sundial and use it to mark the time of the day at your place. First of all find the latitude of your city with the help of an atlas. Cut out a triangular piece of a cardboard such that its one angle is equal to the latitude of your place and the angle opposite to it is a right angle. Fix this piece, called gnomon, vertically along a diameter of a circular board a shown in Fig. 13.16. One way to fix the gnomon could be to make a groove along a diameter on the circular board.

Next, select an open space, which receives sunlight for most of the day. Mark a line on the ground along the North-South direction. Place the sundial in the sun as shown in Fig. 13.16. Mark the position of the tip of the shadow of the gnomon on the circular board as early in the day as possible, say 8:00 AM. Mark the position of the tip of the shadow every hour throughout the day. Draw lines to connect each point marked by you with the centre of the base of the gnomon as shown in Fig. 13.16. Extend the lines on the circular board up to its periphery. You can use this sundial to read the time of the day at your place. Remember that the gnomon should always be placed in the North-South direction as shown in Fig. 13.16.



 3

Make a model of a sand clock which can measure a time interval of 2 minutes (Fig. 13.17).

 4

You can perform an interesting activity when you visit a park to ride a swing. You will require a watch. Make the swing oscillate without anyone sitting on it. Find its time period in the same way as you did for the pendulum. Make sure that there are no jerks in the motion of the swing. Ask one of your friends to sit on the swing. Push it once and let it swing naturally. Again, measure its time period. Repeat the activity with different persons sitting on the swing. Compare the time period of the swing measured in different cases. What conclusions do you draw from this activity?