日本語

Hourglasses

But with water clocks the water spills out if you move them. The water would boil away when it was hot, and freeze when it was cold, which meant that the accuracy of the clocks changed depending on the weather. That’s why people then invented sand clocks, called hourglasses!
I see! Hourglasses are made so that we can measure time by the movement of sand falling down from top to bottom through a fine hole, aren’t they? The sand is contained inside the glass, so they are also convenient for carrying!
I see! Hourglasses are made so that we can measure time by the movement of sand falling down from top to bottom through a fine hole, aren’t they? The sand is contained inside the glass, so they are also convenient for carrying!　They’re also good because you can turn them over and use them over and over again! By the way, when did people first start using hourglasses?
They’re also good because you can turn them over and use them over and over again! By the way, when did people first start using hourglasses?
Even today we don’t know for sure, but we do know that hourglasses were used onboard ships around the year 1500 because of their resistance to shaking—unlike water clocks.
Next

History of Timepieces

Go back to the beginning

  • Sundials
  • Water clocks
  • Hourglasses
  • Combustion Clocks
  • The First Mechanical Clocks
  • Pendulum Clocks
  • Portable Mechanical Clocks & Watches
  • Quartz Clocks & Watches