Question 1

What is a clock?

Accepted Answer

A clock is a tool that tells us what time it is. It usually has numbers and two or three hands that point to the hours and minutes.

Question 2

Why do we need clocks?

Accepted Answer

Clocks help us keep track of time so we know when to do things. For example, we use them to know when to wake up, go to school, or meet friends.

Question 3

What is a calendar?

Accepted Answer

A calendar is a way to organize days, weeks, and months in a year. It helps us know important dates, like holidays and birthdays.

Question 4

Why are there 24 hours in a day?

Accepted Answer

A long time ago, people decided to split the day into 24 parts based on how the sun moved. Each part is called an hour.

Question 5

How do clocks work?

Accepted Answer

Clocks have gears and springs or electronic parts that move the hands to show time. Some clocks need batteries, and others need to be wound up.

Question 6

Why are there 12 months in a year?

Accepted Answer

There are 12 months in a year because ancient people used the moon's cycles and divided the year in a way that worked well for farming and weather.

Question 7

Who invented the first clock?

Accepted Answer

It’s hard to say who invented the first clock, but ancient people used the sun and water to tell time. The first mechanical clocks were made in Europe about 700 years ago.

Question 8

What is the difference between a digital and an analog clock?

Accepted Answer

A digital clock shows time using numbers on a screen, like 2:30. An analog clock has hands that point to numbers on a round dial.

Question 9

How do we know what day of the week it is?

Accepted Answer

The calendar is arranged in weeks, and each day has a name, like Monday or Tuesday. This cycle repeats every seven days.

Question 10

Why are there different time zones?

Accepted Answer

The Earth is very big, so different parts get sunlight at different times. Time zones help schedule activities according to local time and daylight.

Question 11

How do leap years work?

Accepted Answer

A leap year has one extra day added to February to keep our calendar in line with Earth's orbit around the Sun. This happens almost every four years.

Question 12

What is a stopwatch used for?

Accepted Answer

A stopwatch measures how much time passes between start and stop, like when timing a race. It’s useful for keeping track of short periods of time.

Question 13

Why do we have daylight saving time?

Accepted Answer

Daylight saving time is when we change the clocks to make the daylight last longer in the evening. This helps people enjoy more sunlight and save energy.

Question 14

What is the shortest unit of time?

Accepted Answer

The second is the basic unit of time that most clocks measure. There are smaller units like milliseconds, but seconds are the easiest to understand.

Question 15

How does a sundial tell time?

Accepted Answer

A sundial uses the sun’s shadow to show the time. As the sun moves, the shadow points to different hours marked on the sundial.

Question 16

What is a minute?

Accepted Answer

A minute is a short period of time. There are 60 minutes in an hour, helping to break down time into smaller parts.

Question 17

Why are minutes divided into 60 seconds?

Accepted Answer

This way of dividing time comes from ancient civilizations who liked using the number 60 because it divides easily into smaller parts.

Question 18

What is an hourglass?

Accepted Answer

An hourglass is a tool to measure time by letting sand flow from one glass bulb to another. When the sand finishes flowing, time is up!

Question 19

How do calendars help us plan?

Accepted Answer

Calendars show us all the days each month. They help us remember appointments, birthdays, and special events so we can prepare ahead.

Question 20

What makes a clock tick?

Accepted Answer

A ticking clock has moving parts inside like gears and springs that make a sound. Each tick is a small step forward in time.

The Art and Science of Timekeeping: Understanding Clocks and Calendars - 20 FAQs Explained Simply