2007-02-03 12:34:33 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
Its geometery...Think how you can accurately divide a 360 degree circle into 24 equal parts using a basic unit of measure a stick... So to construct a 3 4 5 triangle you measure 3 stick lenghts then 4 sticks then 5 sticks and make a triangle with a perfect 90 degree side
You can use the stick to create a perfect 45 degree angle by measuring one lenght from the origin on the X and Y axis and connecting these points.
A 30 60 90 triangle can be made with a 2 stick Y measure and 1 stick X measure from the origin.
Once you have costructed these angles you can make a set of right triangles 45 90 45 and 30 60 90 using these triangles you can divide a circle into 24 15degree segments.
Also 3 x 4 x 5 = 60 a 60 degree angle can be used to divide a circle into 6 segments
so 3 x 4 x 5 x 6 = 360 So now you know why there are 360 degrees in a circle....
2007-02-03 14:50:46 · answer #1 · answered by MarkG 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Somebody in a bar once told me once that the civilization (I don't remember which one) which invented many of the time and math standards used base 6 and 60 systems. 60 seconds, 60 minutes, 360 (6*60) degrees in a circle, etc. They wanted their warriors to stand guard for 1/4 of a day and since they were crazy about 6's, they made each shift 6 hours. 6*4 gives the 24 hours.
I have no idea if this is true or not, but it sounds good
2007-02-03 12:57:40 · answer #2 · answered by buckeye_brian31 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it takes 24 hours to make a full rotation, so days are rotations, I did read in an artical that a day is actually 23 hours and 57 minutes, so we're probably way off in our timing lol maybe by years ^_^
God Bless
2007-02-03 12:42:43 · answer #3 · answered by ☆Star☆ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well ... it goes back the ancient Egyptians. They liked to measure things by 12's, so they divided the night-time into 12 hours, and the day also.
Also, perhaps it is because they noticed that 12 particular stars rose during a summer night.
2007-02-03 13:05:57 · answer #4 · answered by morningfoxnorth 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not sure, but if you do a Google search for 'Time' and 'Metrology' there may be a definition on there somewhere which defines why an hour is a long as it is.
2007-02-03 12:45:22 · answer #5 · answered by Chay D 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because that the time frame measured by the speed of light that it takes for the complete rotation of the earth from point zero to point zero..
2007-02-03 12:40:00 · answer #6 · answered by J. W. H 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Also because that's how long a day is.
2007-02-03 12:41:45 · answer #7 · answered by almighty_malachi 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋