2007-03-11 16:45:30 · 7 answers · asked by Munkey 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
If it doesn't set itself automatically,
you have to do it manually.
1. grasp sundial by the base
2. lift sundial two inches off the ground
3. slowly rotate "clockwise" 15 degrees
4. lower sundial down until full contact is achieved
and sundial is stabilized.
note: procedure must be reversed on Sunday November 4th at exactly 2 a.m. in order to return the sundial back to Standard Time.
2007-03-11 16:53:56 · answer #1 · answered by GeneL 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On a sunny day, rotate the disc containing the gnomon a bit so as to cause the shadow to read in daylight time. As usual, the time will be off a bit from clock time because of the equation of time -- the variation between clock time and sun time caused by the ellipticity of the earth's orbit around the sun.
A previous responder proposes rotating the disc by 15 degrees, but that will in general not work: the azimuth of the sun does not change by 15 degrees in an hour unless you are at a pole at equinox.
Postscript: subsequent responder is not correct about Arabian time. The country keeps GMT+3 year round as it is far enough south not to find much use for daylight time. Iraq is just enough farther north that they DO go to daylight time, which has in the past caused some confusion as the date they switched did not match when the US switched. Given the latest Congressional meddling, the situation is probably worse now.
2007-03-11 16:59:09 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a better question than you might think, for 'sundial' time was, up until the mid-1800's, the legal time in any location. This began to become a problem when messages could travel instantaneously by telegraph and people could travel more slowly but still awfully fast by railroad. That's when the railroads got together to institute time zones for their own operations. Much to the outrage of religious fundamentalists, 'railroad' time became the standard by which business was done in most places, and it became official not long afterwards.
The deal with fundamentalism isn't exaggerated. Have a look at a world time map, and you'll see that the various time zones go around Saudi Arabia, a place that still takes 'God's time' as seriously as the hamlets of Indiana did in the 1850's.
2007-03-11 16:59:57 · answer #3 · answered by 2n2222 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Add an hour.
2007-03-11 16:55:40 · answer #4 · answered by TheOnlyBeldin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry - you can't -
It's a human construct thing . . .
2007-03-11 16:48:00 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
it's called technology, you should look it up.
2007-03-11 16:51:39 · answer #6 · answered by pimp_knuckles 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is the best laugh I've had all day!
ROTFLMAO!!
(wiping tears from my eyes) Thanks!
2007-03-11 16:48:09 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋