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References & Edit History Related Topics
Images & Videos
reconstruction of the waterpowered mechanical clock
How do atomic clocks work?
weight-driven clock works Great Clock, Rouen, Fr. Labeled diagram of a watch mainspring mechanism showing interconnected gears, the mainspring, balance wheel, winding pinion, escape wheel, and hands for hours, minutes, and seconds. Diagram of an anchor escapement mechanism showing a pendulum attached to pallets that interact with an escape wheel, illustrating how this system regulates time in pendulum clocks. clock Diagram of a verge-and-foliot escapement mechanism in a mechanical clock, showing the escape wheel, vertical verge shaft with pallets, horizontal foliot bar, and regulating weights. Diagram of a pendulum clock with labeled internal components, including the pendulum, driving weight, barrel, gears, anchor, pallet, escape wheel, and the clock face showing the hour, minute, and second hands. Diagram of a quartz watch showing labeled internal components, including gears, battery, quartz oscillator, microprocessor, circuit board, coil, magnet, and motor, overlaid with a partial clock face.
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clock summary
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barometer. Antique Barometer with readout. Technology measurement, mathematics, measure atmospheric pressure
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clock: References & Edit History

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

  • Jonathan D. Betts
    Curator of Horology, Royal Observatory Greenwich, National Maritime Museum.

Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors

Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Modified link of Web site: BBC - How to escape the tyranny of the clock. Aug 21, 2026
Add new Web site: IOPscience - Journal of Physics: Conference Series - Research on Clock Acquisition and Correction Technology of Measurement Equipment (PDF). Oct 06, 2025
Add new Web site: Academia - Clock (PDF). Mar 14, 2025
Add new Web site: University of Wisconsin Pressbooks - Physics Outreach at UW-Madison - Introduction to Clocks and Precision. Dec 04, 2024
Add new Web site: Encyclopaedia Iranica - Clocks. Aug 31, 2024
Add new Web site: BBC - How to escape the tyranny of the clock. May 24, 2024
Corrected display issue and added cross-reference to Salisbury Cathedral. Dec 22, 2023
Links and photo added. Oct 27, 2023
Add new Web site: History of Watch. Jan 31, 2023
Add new Web site: Histroy of Watch - Clock History - Origins of Timekeeping Devices. Mar 26, 2021
Add new Web site: Royal Museums Greenwich - Longitude found: John Harrison. Feb 12, 2021
Add new Web site: Easy Science for Kids - Clocks & Time Video for Kids. Mar 15, 2019
Add new Web site: Inventors and Inventions - The Clock. Mar 15, 2019
Add new Web site: HistoryWorld - History of Clocks. Jan 27, 2017
Added video. Mar 24, 2015
Add new Web site: Old and Sold - Chauncey Jerome and His Clock. Mar 12, 2012
Add new Web site: Fact Monster - Science - Clock. Nov 03, 2010
Media added. Mar 25, 2008
Added new Web site: Old and Sold - Clocks And Watches - Encyclopedia Of Antiques. Dec 04, 2007
Added new Web site: Michigan Reach Out - Clocks. Apr 25, 2007
Article revised and updated. Feb 02, 2007
Added new Web site: National Institute of Standards and Technology - A Walk Through Time - The Evolution of Time Measurement Through the Ages. Nov 14, 2006
Article added to new online database. Jul 20, 1998
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