How does a water clock work and what are some advantages and disadvantages?

Answer 1

Water clocks usually consisted of a vessel of water, having a small hole in the bottom, so that the liquid dripped out drop by drop. As the level within the jar was lowered, it showed the time upon a scale. Thus, if the hole were so small and the vessel were so large that it would require twenty-four hours for the water to drip away at an absolutely steady rate, it may be seen that the side of the vessel might easily have been marked with twenty-four divisions to indicate the hours. Other water clocks, or clepsydras, were cylindrical or bowl-shaped containers designed to slowly fill with water coming in at a constant rate. Markings on the inside surfaces measured the passage of "hours" as the water level reached them. These clocks were used to determine hours at night, but may have been used in daylight as well. Another version consisted of a metal bowl with a hole in the bottom; when placed in a container of water the bowl would fill and sink in a certain time.

Advantages:
1. It could be used indoors, which the sun-dial could not. Which meant that it could work equally well at any hour or place, and in all sorts of weather.

Disadvantages:
1. Water clocks required attention, in that it must be regularly refilled and the orifice must always be kept completely open, because the slightest stoppage would retard the rate of dripping and the "clock" would run slow.
2. Since the rate of flow of water is very difficult to control accurately, a clock based on that flow could never achieve excellent accuracy.

Answer 2

Water Clocks How They Work

Answer 3

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