Mouctar Dia
Prof: Bangali
Engl 21007
6 February 2024
What is my mechanism?
My mechanism is a quartz clock, quartz clocks have been around for almost 100 years, and its primary function is telling time. This masterpiece answers the fundamental question of “what time is it?” Specifically, speaking quartz clocks were introduced in 1927 by an American Warren Marrison. Before that people used pendulum clocks, a pendulum clock is a mechanical clock that uses a swinging pendulum as its timekeeping element. In short, the pendulum uses gravity in its favor to measure accurate time, which means it could cause some delays if the elevation of the clock is higher than the normal gravity is used to, in another words is going to give inaccurate timings. Very distinct from the electric clocks of today. What makes quartz clocks different is that they use electricity as the base for its function you could say another name for it is the “electric clock.” And overall, what makes it better than the pendulum is the fact that is more accurate when it comes to telling time. Quartz clocks are known for their accuracy, typically losing, or gaining only a few seconds per month. The quartz clock is different as it relies on the battery nothing else nothing more. Overall, quartz clock revolutionized timekeeping by providing affordable and accurate alternatives to traditional mechanical clocks, and they remain as one of the most common types of clocks used today.
The appearance is not much different from other clocks; however, one distinct feature is that they use electronic oscillators to generate time. They are diverse types of quartz clocks/watches. The one that I am writing about is quartz clocks specifically. In size they go from 11 mm to 26 mm. The shape is usually squares, circles, and ovals. It has two important and main appearances: one is the interior where all the magic happens, and the other is the exterior where you witness the result of the magic. How do quartz clock’s function?
The main components:
Battery: Sends an electric current through the quartz crystal oscillator.
Quartz crystal oscillator: The crystal vibrates at a very precise frequency when an electrical current is passed through it.
Electric stepping motor: The electric stepping motor is designed to move the hands of the clock in small, precise steps.
Microchip: Circuit connects microchip to other components.
Crown Screw: for setting time.
Gears: Turn hour, minute, and second hands at different speeds.
Tiny central shaft: Holds hands in place.
Hands Display: Finally, the motion is transferred to the hands of the clock, causing them to move at the correct rate to indicate the current time.
In essence, the quartz crystal provides the steady beat, the circuitry processes this beat, the motor translates it into movement, and the gears and hands display the time accordingly. It’s a simple yet effective system that ensures the accuracy of quartz clocks.
In conclusion quartz clocks are timeless pieces if not appreciated enough, they will be a decoration of history. The combination of accuracy, low maintenance, affordability, compact size, resistance to external factors, and ease of use makes quartz clocks the preferred choice for most practical timekeeping applications in modern times. Did you know that after the creation of the quartz clock that clocks started being affordable since before that the mechanical clocks that were popular back then were mostly created by elite crafters in Swiss, where at the time only the elites could afford it. But now every house or person has it, even me.
Works Cited
The woodshed. n.d. <https://wood-shed.co.uk/product/quartz-clock-movement/#:~:text=Quartz%20Clock%20Movement%2C%20in%204,18mm%20deep.>.
