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Got a Sec? Take This Quiz on the History of Timekeeping

Question 20

Grandfather clocks get their name from what?

Grandfather clocks get their name from what?
The inventor’s grandfatherThe inventor’s grandfather
17%
A popular songA popular song
5%
The legend of Father TimeThe legend of Father Time
75%
It’s expensive priceIt’s expensive price
3%
Tall pendulum clocks powered by the force of gravity are known as grandfather clocks. The name comes from “My Grandfather’s Clock,” a popular 1876 song by American songwriter Henry Clay Work. However, its name is apropos, as grandfather clocks were some of the first mechanical clocks ever made.
Source: Britannica
Grandfather clocks get their name from what?
The inventor’s grandfatherThe inventor’s grandfather
17%
A popular songA popular song
5%
The legend of Father TimeThe legend of Father Time
75%
It’s expensive priceIt’s expensive price
3%
Question 19

Matins, lauds, and vespers are examples of what?

Matins, lauds, and vespers are examples of what?
Egyptian monthsEgyptian months
9%
Canonical hoursCanonical hours
68%
Greek godsGreek gods
5%
Roman festivalsRoman festivals
18%
The canonical hours represent the seven prayers that Christians may recite throughout the day. Matins is the lengthiest hour and originally was recited at night. (Now, the prayers are said at any time of the day.) Lauds is a solemn morning prayer, and vespers is the evening prayer. Before the advent of mechanical clocks, canonical hours were important because churches would ring their bells to mark these moments of prayer.
Source: Britannica
Matins, lauds, and vespers are examples of what?
Egyptian monthsEgyptian months
9%
Canonical hoursCanonical hours
68%
Greek godsGreek gods
5%
Roman festivalsRoman festivals
18%
Question 18

Early timekeeping devices that didn’t rely on celestial objects used what?

Early timekeeping devices that didn’t rely on celestial objects used what?
WaterWater
33%
SandSand
48%
LightLight
16%
WindWind
3%
A clepsydra, also known as a water clock, measured time using the flow of water. This was especially useful when other timekeeping implements, such as the sundial, couldn’t keep time at night. The invention dates back to the 14th century BCE in Egypt and was used as late as the 16th century CE. Galileo, for example, used a mercury-filled clepsydra to time the movement of planets and moons.
Source: Britannica
Early timekeeping devices that didn’t rely on celestial objects used what?
WaterWater
33%
SandSand
48%
LightLight
16%
WindWind
3%
Question 17

Cuckoo clocks are associated with what country?

Cuckoo clocks are associated with what country?
FranceFrance
1%
GermanyGermany
79%
NetherlandsNetherlands
10%
SwedenSweden
10%
Although horologists aren't 100% certain of the cuckoo clock’s origin, the timepiece was likely created in the Black Forest region of Germany in the 17th century. The cuckoo is thought to have been chosen because the bird was already a timekeeper of sorts, as its call was considered a harbinger of spring.
Source: Smithsonian Magazine
Cuckoo clocks are associated with what country?
FranceFrance
1%
GermanyGermany
79%
NetherlandsNetherlands
10%
SwedenSweden
10%
Question 16

Which leader created the 12-month Roman calendar?

Which leader created the 12-month Roman calendar?
RomulusRomulus
10%
Numa PompiliusNuma Pompilius
3%
Caesar AugustusCaesar Augustus
80%
Lucius Quinctius CincinnatusLucius Quinctius Cincinnatus
7%
Before King Numa Pompilius, the Roman calendar was a mess. First instituted by Romulus, the mythical founder of Rome, the early calendar was only 304 days long, contained only 10 months, and started in March. To better align things, Pompilius created the 12-month calendar. Although it wasn’t perfect, the new calendar was a vast improvement over the one that came before it.
Source: Britannica
Which leader created the 12-month Roman calendar?
RomulusRomulus
10%
Numa PompiliusNuma Pompilius
3%
Caesar AugustusCaesar Augustus
80%
Lucius Quinctius CincinnatusLucius Quinctius Cincinnatus
7%
Question 15

What theory proposes that time is related to gravity?

What theory proposes that time is related to gravity?
General relativityGeneral relativity
72%
Big Bang theoryBig Bang theory
7%
Hubble’s LawHubble’s Law
10%
Law of thermodynamicsLaw of thermodynamics
11%
While time always moves forward, the flow of time is relative to your location. For example, time flows differently on the surface of Earth than in the planet’s orbit. Albert Einstein detailed this notion in his theory of general relativity. The difference is only seven-millionths of a second per day, but these tiny fluctuations are immensely important for satellites. In fact, GPS wouldn’t exist without Einstein’s theory baked into the satellite network’s design.
Source: NASA
What theory proposes that time is related to gravity?
General relativityGeneral relativity
72%
Big Bang theoryBig Bang theory
7%
Hubble’s LawHubble’s Law
10%
Law of thermodynamicsLaw of thermodynamics
11%
Question 14

Kalends, nones, and ides are calendar events related to what?

Kalends, nones, and ides are calendar events related to what?
The equinoxThe equinox
21%
The moonThe moon
43%
The solsticeThe solstice
25%
The sunThe sun
11%
In William Shakespeare’s play “Julius Caesar,” the titular character is warned to “beware the ides of March,” otherwise known as March 15. “Ides,” along with other terms such as “kalends” and “nones,” referred to days on the lunar-based Roman calendar. “Ides” meant the middle of the month, while “kalends” marked the new moon and “nones” denoted the quarter moon.
Source: History.com
Kalends, nones, and ides are calendar events related to what?
The equinoxThe equinox
21%
The moonThe moon
43%
The solsticeThe solstice
25%
The sunThe sun
11%
Question 13

The 24-hour, 60-minute, 60-second system comes from what ancient people?

The 24-hour, 60-minute, 60-second system comes from what ancient people?
AssyriansAssyrians
17%
BabyloniansBabylonians
36%
RomansRomans
28%
PersiansPersians
18%
The Babylonians popularized the base-60 numerical system, also known as the sexagesimal, which was based on the highly divisible number 60. The system divided a year into 360 days, organized hours and seconds into increments of 60, defined a circle as 360 degrees, and more. While much of the world eventually switched to a numerical system based on the number 10, remnants of base-60 live on in the way we tell time today.
Source: The New York Times
The 24-hour, 60-minute, 60-second system comes from what ancient people?
AssyriansAssyrians
17%
BabyloniansBabylonians
36%
RomansRomans
28%
PersiansPersians
18%
Question 12

The photo-finish timekeeper was introduced at what event?

The photo-finish timekeeper was introduced at what event?
Kentucky DerbyKentucky Derby
60%
World’s FairWorld’s Fair
10%
Summer OlympicsSummer Olympics
28%
Boston MarathonBoston Marathon
3%
Called the “Magic Eye,” the photo-finish timekeeping technology was created by the watch company Omega, and debuted at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London. The Magic Eye used photoelectric cells to record the exact moment the finish line was crossed. Although it was only supposed to be on hand as a backup, the technology immediately proved its worth when judges used it to determine the winner of the men’s 100-meter sprint.
Source: Omega Watches
The photo-finish timekeeper was introduced at what event?
Kentucky DerbyKentucky Derby
60%
World’s FairWorld’s Fair
10%
Summer OlympicsSummer Olympics
28%
Boston MarathonBoston Marathon
3%
Question 11

Galileo helped invent what timekeeping device?

Galileo helped invent what timekeeping device?
Pendulum clockPendulum clock
94%
WristwatchWristwatch
2%
Alarm clockAlarm clock
3%
Cuckoo clockCuckoo clock
2%
Mechanical clocks were used throughout Europe for at least two centuries before Galileo Galilei came along, but the Florentine astronomer (1564-1642)drew up a theoretical method in which a pendulum could regulate a clock’s ticking mechanism, making it much more accurate. The first working pendulum clock was constructed in 1656, by Dutch mathematician and astronomer Christiaan Huygens.
Source: Royal Holloway, University of London
Galileo helped invent what timekeeping device?
Pendulum clockPendulum clock
94%
WristwatchWristwatch
2%
Alarm clockAlarm clock
3%
Cuckoo clockCuckoo clock
2%
Question 10

The world’s most accurate clocks run on what technology?

The world’s most accurate clocks run on what technology?
Atomic physicsAtomic physics
68%
Artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence
2%
Quantum computersQuantum computers
18%
AstronomyAstronomy
12%
In 1967, scientists changed the official definition of a second from 1/86400th of a day to “the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.” This is the basic principle behind atomic clocks, which use the resonance frequencies of atoms to measure time with unprecedented accuracy. Some atomic clocks are so accurate that they won’t lose a second in 15 billion years.
Source: Scientific American
The world’s most accurate clocks run on what technology?
Atomic physicsAtomic physics
68%
Artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence
2%
Quantum computersQuantum computers
18%
AstronomyAstronomy
12%
Question 9

What does “UTC” stand for?

What does “UTC” stand for?
Code of United TimeCode of United Time
11%
Unlimited Temporal CodexUnlimited Temporal Codex
28%
Coordinated Universal TimeCoordinated Universal Time
36%
Ultimate Composite TimeUltimate Composite Time
25%
Although counterintuitive, “UTC” stands for “coordinated universal time” in an effort to not favor any particular language and also to align with the already-established abbreviation “UT” for “universal time.” Originally conceived in the late 1800s for standardizing rail and shipping schedules, UTC sets the time for all time zones in the world, and NASA uses the standard for its spacefaring missions.
Source: Space.com
What does “UTC” stand for?
Code of United TimeCode of United Time
11%
Unlimited Temporal CodexUnlimited Temporal Codex
28%
Coordinated Universal TimeCoordinated Universal Time
36%
Ultimate Composite TimeUltimate Composite Time
25%
Question 8

July and August are named after what?

July and August are named after what?
Roman rulersRoman rulers
69%
Greek godsGreek gods
11%
Roman godsRoman gods
19%
Italian landmarksItalian landmarks
1%
Most months on the calendar were named after Roman gods or numbers. However, July and August were named after two important figures of Roman history: Julius Caesar and Emperor Augustus. The months were originally named “Quintilus” and “Sextilius,” meaning “fifth” and “sixth” in Latin, respectively. They earned their new monikers in the first century BCE.
Source: Britannica
July and August are named after what?
Roman rulersRoman rulers
69%
Greek godsGreek gods
11%
Roman godsRoman gods
19%
Italian landmarksItalian landmarks
1%
Question 7

Who made wristwatches popular?

Who made wristwatches popular?
EngineersEngineers
7%
SoldiersSoldiers
47%
ProfessorsProfessors
3%
Train conductorsTrain conductors
43%
Although some women wore watchfaces on bracelets in the early 20th century, soldiers were the first to strap the timekeeping devices to their wrists. With the onset of World War I, watches transitioned from a fashion accessory to a military tool when aviators and soldiers used them to time assaults. After that, the wristwatch became a must-have timekeeping accessory.
Source: The Atlantic
Who made wristwatches popular?
EngineersEngineers
7%
SoldiersSoldiers
47%
ProfessorsProfessors
3%
Train conductorsTrain conductors
43%
Question 6

What animal is NOT part of the Chinese lunar calendar?

What animal is NOT part of the Chinese lunar calendar?
DogDog
12%
PigPig
16%
DragonDragon
28%
CatCat
44%
The Chinese lunar calendar, which begins on the new moon between January 21 and February 20 each year, has been in use since its creation in 2637 BCE by the first Chinese emperor, Huangdi, also known as the Yellow Emperor. The months of the lunar calendar are designated by animals of the Chinese zodiac, such as the dog, pig, and dragon — but the cat is not among them.
Source: University of Washington
What animal is NOT part of the Chinese lunar calendar?
DogDog
12%
PigPig
16%
DragonDragon
28%
CatCat
44%
Question 5

What calendar did Europe use before the modern Gregorian calendar?

What calendar did Europe use before the modern Gregorian calendar?
Solar calendarSolar calendar
10%
Julian calendarJulian calendar
84%
Chinese calendarChinese calendar
3%
Aztec calendarAztec calendar
4%
In 45 BCE, Julius Caesar, the de facto ruler of the Roman Republic, instituted a new timekeeping system, the Julian calendar, in an effort to more effectively rule his expanding domain. The calendar, which measured a year as 365.25 days, lasted for more than 1,500 years before slight astronomical errors forced the creation of today’s Gregorian calendar.
Source: Britannica
What calendar did Europe use before the modern Gregorian calendar?
Solar calendarSolar calendar
10%
Julian calendarJulian calendar
84%
Chinese calendarChinese calendar
3%
Aztec calendarAztec calendar
4%
Question 4

What is the world’s oldest timekeeping device?

What is the world’s oldest timekeeping device?
Incense clockIncense clock
0%
Water clockWater clock
6%
Candle clockCandle clock
2%
SundialSundial
92%
Before the clever engineering of water clocks (dating as far back as 1500 BCE) or the popular incense clocks of China’s Song dynasty (960-1279 CE), ancient civilizations relied on the trusty sundial to tell time. Sundials, also known as shadow clocks, date back to at least 3500 BCE to Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt, and were later improved upon by the ancient Greeks, Romans, and Islamic scientists in the Middle Ages.
Source: Britannica
What is the world’s oldest timekeeping device?
Incense clockIncense clock
0%
Water clockWater clock
6%
Candle clockCandle clock
2%
SundialSundial
92%
Question 3

What is the “M” in A.M. and P.M.?

What is the “M” in A.M. and P.M.?
MeridiemMeridiem
91%
MiddleMiddle
2%
MiddayMidday
7%
ModerateModerate
1%
“A.M.” is an abbreviation for the Latin term "ante meridiem," signifying “before noon.” “P.M.” means "post meridiem," Latin for “after noon.” According to the Physical Measurement Laboratory, which is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology, "12 a.m. and 12 p.m. are ambiguous and should not be used." They recommend opting for the terms "noon" and "midnight" instead.
Source: NIST
What is the “M” in A.M. and P.M.?
MeridiemMeridiem
91%
MiddleMiddle
2%
MiddayMidday
7%
ModerateModerate
1%
Question 2

The Gregorian calendar is named after what figure?

The Gregorian calendar is named after what figure?
AstronomerAstronomer
16%
KingKing
12%
MathematicianMathematician
21%
PopePope
52%
Most of Europe observed the Julian calendar for around 1,500 years, but small mathematical inaccuracies exacerbated across many centuries eventually misaligned the calendar dates with astronomical reality. For one, Easter, Catholicism's holiest day, which was traditionally observed on the spring equinox, became 10 days out of sync. To correct the errors, Pope Gregory XIII decided to make a few adjustments, creating today’s modern calendar.
Source: Britannica
The Gregorian calendar is named after what figure?
AstronomerAstronomer
16%
KingKing
12%
MathematicianMathematician
21%
PopePope
52%
Question 1

What famous ancient landmark is also a cosmic clock?

What famous ancient landmark is also a cosmic clock?
Great Pyramid of GizaGreat Pyramid of Giza
4%
StonehengeStonehenge
91%
Terracotta ArmyTerracotta Army
1%
ParthenonParthenon
3%
Built by Neolithic druids some 5,000 years ago, Stonehenge is a cosmic clock that tracks the summer and winter solstices, which was important not only for planting crops, but also for the religious practices of Celtic pagans. Experts believe that the famous monument possibly tracked solar and lunar eclipses as well.
Source: English Heritage
What famous ancient landmark is also a cosmic clock?
Great Pyramid of GizaGreat Pyramid of Giza
4%
StonehengeStonehenge
91%
Terracotta ArmyTerracotta Army
1%
ParthenonParthenon
3%
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