Water clocks in different historical periods

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-01 17:06

The water clock is a unique invention used by people as early as 150 BC. In those days, time intervals were measured by the amount of water flowing out. The first copy was created by Ctesibius and gave them the name "clepsydra", which in Greek means "to take water". They were a vessel, on the surface of which a time scale was applied. Arabic numerals denoted night hours, and Roman numerals denoted daytime hours. The mechanism of their action was as follows: water dripped into the container at certain intervals. An increase in the liquid level raised the float, causing the time indicator to move.

By the time such a wonderful invention appeared, the water clock was known to the peoples of the Far East in a more primitive form.

Particularly popular in China and India. Here they were represented by a hemispherical bowl, which had a natural opening. Water was slowly flowing through it. Such a water clock measured the time between the immersion of the bowl in the liquid and its immersion in the pool. According to preliminary data, in India theywere called "yala-yantra" and existed there as far back as 300 years BC.

In Egypt, time was measured by the outflow of liquid. Such a water clock was created from an alabaster vessel, which was completely filled with water.

The liquid leaked out through a small hole. Due to the fact that the day was divided into night (from sunset to sunrise) and day, the length of the hour depended on the time of year. Interestingly, its duration was not precisely established until the 14th century. That is why, on some types of mechanisms, the determination of time was indicated by 12 hour scales, which corresponded to the months of the year.

Measurement of time in this way was quite difficult. First, the clock had many scales. Secondly, a special device was required to regulate the flow of water. Most often, it was represented by a conical corrective element, due to which the liquid level and its flow rate were adjusted.

So, for example, in ancient times, a speaker could only speak until the water from one vessel ran out. Now these ancient methods are being taught at school: watches are made with the help of improvised means. For children, crafts made from a plastic bottle, wire and adhesive tape recall the ancient history of such an interesting invention.

In the modern world, almost no one determines time with the help of liquid. However, the water clock in Japan, located at the Osaka railway station, is completelyconsist of H_{2O. In order to get the corresponding pictures and numbers, the drops “fly out” from a special device at regular intervals. This creative solution was implemented by Orient.}

Another water clock in a modern solution can be purchased at various online stores. The principle of their work lies in the extraction of electrons from water molecules, which provide an electrical flow thanks to a special (electrolytic) engine. Therefore, in order for the device to show the time, it is sufficient to fill it with H_{2O once every six weeks.}