Why all clocks run clockwise?

Answer 1

Before clocks were commonplace, the terms 'sunwise' and deiseil (from the Scottish Gaelic from the same root as the Latin dexter, "right". The word is also used for "ready") were used for clockwise. (Of course, deasil (righthandwards) is only sunwise in the Northern Hemisphere.) 'Widdershins' or 'withershins' (from Middle Low German weddersinnes, "opposite course") was used for counterclockwise.

Technically, the terms clockwise and counterclockwise can only be applied to a rotational motion once a side of the rotational plane is specified, from which the rotation is observed. For example, the daily rotation of the Earth is counterclockwise when viewed from the North Pole, and clockwise when viewed from the South Pole.

Clocks traditionally follow this sense of rotation because of the clock's predecessor: the sundial. Clocks with hands were first built in the Northern Hemisphere (see main article), and they were made to work like sundials. In order for a horizontal sundial to work (in the north), it must be placed looking southward. Then, when the Sun moves in the sky (east to south to west), the shadow cast by the sundial moves in the opposite direction, that is west to north to east. That's why hours were drawn in sundials in that manner, and that's why modern clocks have their numbers set in the same way.

Occasionally, clocks whose hands revolve counterclockwise are nowadays sold as a novelty. Historically, some Jewish clocks were built that way, for example in some Synagogue towers in Europe. This was done in accordance with the right-to-left reading direction of Hebrew.

Answer 2

Sundials were amongst the first devices used to chart time. As the Earth rotates, the Sun appears to rise in the East, travel across the sky and then descend in the West.

In the Northern hemisphere, the shadow cast by the sundial's gnomon traces a path that we recognise as "clockwise". Mechanical clocks were designed to duplicate this movement.

Answer 3

In the North West of Germany (East Friesland) clocks go anti clockwise !!

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Answer 4

clockwise is from right to left, like east to west, they way the sun travels

clocks are based on sun dials, which used movement of the sun
thus the east to west thing

Answer 5

i dunno, but apparently they named the direction of the movement in which it goes after the clock. i have a clock that runs counter clockwise, which in its case is counter clockwise compared to other clocks, but clockwise in regards to which way the clock goes. hahaha confusing!

Answer 6

Because they're clocks. It they weren't clocks they would run something-else-wise.

Answer 7

because it looks odd when they turn backward
on the southern hemisphere they run backward