Why do clocks all run clockwise?

Question

well, Alex, you didn't really answer the question. Ok, they were based on sundials, but then, why do all sundials have noon facing north instead of south? Of course I guess even then, that would assume that you are in northern hemisphere?

Answer 1

because they are clocks.

Answer 2

I think the "sundial" answers are on the right track -- but not because the shadow goes "left-to-right". (After all, you can move "left-to-right" in a COUNTER-clockwise direction too (think about it). And if you're facing the opposite direction (say south instead of north), the shadow actually moves right-to-left!)

I think the correct answer is that sundials (and the clocks that followed) came to prominence in the _northern_ hemisphere. In the northern hemisphere, the sun follows a path from east to SOUTH to west. This causes the tip of a sundial's shadow to travel in an arc (not a straight line) from west to NORTH to east. If you're facing north, this is: from left to TOP to right, the rotational direction we now call clockwise.

In Australia, of course, a sundial's shadow moves COUNTER-clockwise (west to SOUTH to east). If clocks had first come to prominence there instead of in Europe, our definition of "clockwise" would probably be opposite of what it is today!

Answer 3

Convention. When people used to rely on sundials, the shadow that represented the time rotated clockwise because the sun rises in the east as a cause of the earth spinning clockwise. So when the first electric clocks were made, they built the motors to spin the hands clockwise, because this was how it always was.

Answer 4

The original clocks where sun dials, that of course run clockwise because the Sun rises due East and travel due West, so the shadow runs opposite, or from left to right.
When mechanical clocks were first manufactured (In the Nothen Hemisphere by the way) , the whole idea of showing timekeeping in a circular indicator, signaled by needles that ran left to right and up to down had set. So rather that teaching everyone a new system the cogs were made to fit 'common sense'

Edit:
I actually thought I did answer. . . but well let us clarify. Frist and foremost, your question was: Why do clocks all run clockwise? Well we got the answer pegged, sundails, even in southern hemispheres the SHADOW is proyected 'south' (although down is more appropiate) and however you put it it is always opposite to the rising and setting of the sun, so left to right up to down. So that is why timekeeping is done clockwise. For the second part of your question as to why 12 O'clock is 'up' two things, first, regardless of where you are 12 noon projects the shortest shadow downward (Dis you notice I steered clear of North and South?)

Answer 5

I think the word clockwise came after clocks. It's like asking why is water wet?

Clockwise is defined as the direction in which the clock's hands rotate, so a clock's hand always rotate in a clockwise direction.

Answer 6

It's just a traditional convention. It does seem to derive from Roman text, reading left to right. Most dials read the same direction: altimeters, barometers, thermometers, calipers. It just seems to be what we are comfortable with.

Yeah. I had a "goofy watch," too. There have been exceptions, usually for entertainment or decorative reasons.

Answer 7

Because they were MADE THAT WAY.

I used to have one that ran counter-clock wise (backwards) and the numbers were set around in the opposite direction....so we could still tell time. Guess what ? time still never ran backwards!...and unfortunately we were not able to travel into the past.

Answer 8

They all don't. While growing up i had a "goofy" watch than ran counter clock-wise

Answer 9

because you read left to right and up to down and clockwise is a combination of both

Answer 10

Why does the sun emit sunlight? Your question is a tautology.