How Does a Clock Work Without Electricity?

A clock without electricity uses gears, springs, or weights to keep moving. Imagine a big toy car that keeps going because it has a rubber band, when you pull the rubber band back and let go, it makes the wheels spin. A mechanical clock is like that toy car: inside are tiny gears that turn one after another, keeping time without needing electricity.

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Examples

  1. Winding your grandfather’s clock is like giving it a big hug, it keeps ticking for hours without needing any electricity.
  2. A pocket watch that you wind every morning stays accurate all day because of its little spring inside.
  3. Some clocks have weights hanging from the back, and as they slowly fall, they power the clock's hands.

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Categories: Physics · Clocks· Mechanics· Timekeeping · Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.