Designing a Clock

In the third and final unit of Light, Sound, and Time, we learned about Time. Moreover, we studied how gravity affects time and how time and space are related. We also looked at different time telling devices and instruments like pendulums and sundials. For the math section of the unit, we learned how to figure out longitude and latitude, how to calculate arc length, and how to calculate the period of a pendulum. For our Action Project, we were asked to design a time telling device based off of our research we did on ancient clocks.

For my clock, I combined the main ideas from each unit into one device. The clock I designed uses Light and Sound to communicate the Time. In order to tell the time with light, the device starts dim and gradually increases/decreases the brightness as the day goes on. While when the peak of brightness happens is programmable, it would originally be set to noon to mimic the real sun. In order to tell time with sound, a constant sound is emitted throughout the day with a increase/decrease in frequency as the day goes on.

Similar the light aspect of the clock, the sound tells time by increasing/decreasing the frequency and can also be programmed to have the peak happen at different times of the day. The program that the device would be set on when it was first turned on would be to start emitting a sound with a frequency of 150 Hz at 12am. For 12 hours until noon, the sound would increase in frequency at a rate of 0.4861 Hz per minute. Once it hits the peak of 500 Hz it would start to decrease at the same rate until it hit 12am again to repeat the cycle. Also, the volume is adjustable and comes with the option to toggle it on and off so the sound is not bothersome.

Like we learned in unit two, the frequency of the sound wave is tied to the pitch of the sound. The higher the frequency of the wave, the higher the pitch. Also, we used the equation 340.29 m/s (speed of sound)= wavelength x frequency. If we wanted to test this equation, we could look at the lowest frequency of the clock (150 Hz) and find its wavelength by dividing the speed of sound by 150 Hz. So, 340.29/150= 22.686. The wavelength of a wave with a frequency of 150 Hz is 22.686 m.

Primarily this clock was made to be a cool and new way to tell time. However, it also allows people who are either blind or deaf to see or hear time. People who need this device to tell time are more likely to buy it so that is why it was designed with those people in mind. But, there is no limit on who can enjoy the device. Also, because there is the option to program the cycle of the sound and light, the user can make it so they wake up to a soothing dim light and a low but relaxing tone.

The idea of using light to tell time is not new. The most common example of how ancient civilizations practiced this is the sundial. The earliest record of the use of the sundial goes all the way back to ancient Egypt. To tell time, the sundial relies on the sun's change in position in the earth's sky. As time goes by, the shadow casted by gnomon (the part in the middle of the sundial that sticks upward) gets moved around the face of the sundial.  To read the time, people just see where the tip of the shadow is casted around the numbers on the face (just like a traditional analog clock). My clock is  similar to this old time invention because of its use of light. However, my design is in no way an improvement of this ancient clock. The sundial would be a way more accurate way to tell time than my device would be. However, my device was not made to be a precise way of keeping track of time. It was more for a novelty and to help those who cannot see a normal clock.

The measurements of the clock would be approximately 5in Tall x 10in Long x 3 in Wide. Because of this, the volume would be around 150 in^3.

Citations

Marie, Niclas. "When Time Began: The History and Science of Sundials." Time Center. TimeCenter,

n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2017.