Clock

A clock is a device that displays the current time or measures a period of time. In order for a watch to work accurately, it always contains a part that vibrates as uniformly as possible, the period of which is used for counting, a device that supplies the energy for the vibration either electrically or electronically, and a contact that transmits the energy to the vibrating part. The frequency of the oscillation is then displayed in units of seconds, minutes or hours. Depending on whether it is an analogue or a digital watch, either hands or numbers serve as indicators.

Historically, in ancient times, time was measured with sundials, sand clocks and water clocks. These watches were therefore the first watches ever. According to tradition, the first wheel clocks are mentioned as tower clocks around 1300 and clocks with springs were first built around 1400 as grandfather clocks. The mechanism of these grandfather clocks was further developed and made smaller and smaller until around 1510, when P. Henlein from Nuremberg produced the first portable clock ("Nuremberg Eggs"). Since these clocks were still very imprecise, the Dutchman C. Huyghens improved the accuracy in 1656 by using a pendulum as a regulator. Also the balance wheel , an oscillating wheel with spiral springs, was invented by him. Electric clocks have been built since the middle of the 19th century. In 1928 the first quartz watch was made by W.A. Mavvison and the first usable atomic clock was built in 1948.

The thickness of the movement decides whether a watch is a large watch or a small watch. A distinction is also made between elevator, drive or vibration system. Mechanical Watches have a mechanical winding mechanism, i.e. they are powered by weights (e.g. cuckoo clocks) or springs (e.g. wristwatches). They also have a drive, a gear train, an escapement (ensures that the hands run synchronously with the oscillating system) and an oscillating system (balance wheel). At electronic clocks (e.g. quartz watches), electronic circuits convert the frequencies generated by the vibration system. As a result, they are more accurate and less prone to failure than mechanical or electric clocks. In conjunction with an integrated microprocessor, it is possible with electronic watches to use extensions such as an alarm clock, appointment clock or date display in addition to the usual display.
For special purposes there are timers, control clocks, game clocks, timers and stopwatches that only display time intervals.