Question 1

What is a clock?

Accepted Answer

A clock is a tool that tells us what time it is. It has hands or numbers that show hours, minutes, and sometimes seconds.

Question 2

How do clocks work?

Accepted Answer

Clocks have gears and parts inside that move in a special way to show hours and minutes. Some clocks use springs, while others use batteries or electricity to keep time.

Question 3

Why do we need clocks?

Accepted Answer

We need clocks to organize our day. They help us wake up, go to school, eat meals, and know when it's time for bed.

Question 4

Who invented the first clock?

Accepted Answer

A long time ago, people made sundials which used the sun to tell time. Later, different inventors created the first mechanical clocks, but there's no one person who invented it all.

Question 5

What is time?

Accepted Answer

Time is how we measure the passing of moments in our day. We use time to know when things happen.

Question 6

What are digital clocks?

Accepted Answer

Digital clocks show time using numbers on a screen. You can see the exact hour and minutes without any moving hands.

Question 7

What are analog clocks?

Accepted Answer

Analog clocks have moving hands that point to numbers on a round face. These clocks often have three hands: one for hours, one for minutes, and sometimes one for seconds.

Question 8

How did people tell time before clocks?

Accepted Answer

Before clocks, people used the sun and stars to know the time. They watched the sun's position in the sky or used sundials to cast a shadow that showed the hour.

Question 9

What is a sundial?

Accepted Answer

A sundial is a tool that uses the sun's shadow to tell time. When the sun moves, the shadow moves too, showing the time of day.

Question 10

What is a grandfather clock?

Accepted Answer

A grandfather clock is a tall, freestanding clock. It often has a swinging pendulum inside that helps keep time.

Question 11

Why do clocks have pendulums?

Accepted Answer

A pendulum helps clocks keep accurate time. By swinging back and forth at a steady rate, it makes sure the clock works properly.

Question 12

What is the difference between AM and PM?

Accepted Answer

AM means 'ante meridiem' or before noon, and PM means 'post meridiem' or after noon. They help us know whether times are in the morning or evening.

Question 13

What is the smallest unit of time?

Accepted Answer

The smallest unit we usually talk about is a 'second.' It's a short bit of time used to measure how fast things happen.

Question 14

What does 'tick-tock' mean?

Accepted Answer

'Tick-tock' is the sound many clocks make. It's the noise of the gears and parts moving to keep time.

Question 15

What is an alarm clock?

Accepted Answer

An alarm clock is a clock with a special sound to wake you up or remind you of something. You can set it to go off at a certain time.

Question 16

How do we measure time in space?

Accepted Answer

In space, scientists use very accurate clocks called 'atomic clocks.' These clocks never lose time and help keep time even when there’s no day or night like on Earth.

Question 17

What is a stopwatch?

Accepted Answer

A stopwatch is a special clock used to time how long something takes. You start and stop it with a button to measure seconds and minutes.

Question 18

What is 'o'clock'?

Accepted Answer

'O'clock' is short for 'of the clock' and is used when telling the time. We say it when the minute hand is on the 12, like '3 o'clock' means exactly three hours past noon or midnight.

Question 19

Why do some clocks have Roman numerals?

Accepted Answer

Some clocks use Roman numerals as a style choice. Instead of numbers like 1, 2, 3, they use I, II, III, which can look special or old-fashioned.

Question 20

How does a digital clock know the time?

Accepted Answer

A digital clock uses an electric circuit and sometimes a battery to keep track of time. It counts the seconds, then minutes, then hours, and shows this on the screen.

The Art and Science of Clocks and Time Measurement - 20 FAQs Explained Simply