Sundials are one of the earliest ways people measured time.
→ They work by using the position of the Sun.
→ A sundial has a flat surface and a stick (called a gnomon) that casts a shadow. As the Sun moves across the sky, the shadow moves too. The flat surface has markings that show the hours of the day.
→ So, by looking at where the shadow falls, people could tell what time it was.
(2) Water Clocks:
→ Water clocks were another ancient way to measure time, especially useful because they could work when the sun wasn't out.
→ These clocks measure time by the regulated flow of liquid into or out of a container.
→ There were generally two types: in one, water dripped out of a container, and markings on the inside of the container showed how much time had passed as the water level went down.
→ In another type, water dripped into a container, and the rising water level indicated the time.
(3) Hourglasses:
→ Hourglasses are simple and reliable devices that measure the passage of time.
→ An hourglass consists of two glass bulbs connected by a narrow neck. One bulb is filled with sand, which flows through the neck into the other bulb.
→ Once all the sand has flowed to the bottom, it indicates that a specific amount of time has passed.
→ Hourglasses were commonly used for timing events, like speeches, cooking, or even work shifts.