I just saw this article from a couple of weeks ago which describes how the first highly accurate clocks imported to America did not run at the correct rate, and left the clockmakers scratching their heads at the time. [1]https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/physics-first-clock-america- failed/ It is a pop-sci type article, no citations provided, so I wouldn't be surprised if it turned out that the experienced clock makers of the time actually did know that "of course you have to recalibrate your pendulum if you move to the Alps or move to Cairo" but apparently the customers in Boston didn't know that and were mad their clock was seemingly broken on the journey from Holland to the colonies, but worked perfectly fine when they sent it back to the clock maker for repair. -- Chris Caudle References 1. https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/physics-first-clock-america-failed/

 I just saw this article from a couple of weeks ago which describes how
 the first highly accurate clocks imported to America did not run at the
 correct rate, and left the clockmakers scratching their heads at the
 time.

 [1]https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/physics-first-clock-america-
 failed/

 It is a pop-sci type article, no citations provided, so I wouldn't be
 surprised if it turned out that the experienced clock makers of the
 time actually did know that "of course you have to recalibrate your
 pendulum if you move to the Alps or move to Cairo" but apparently the
 customers in Boston didn't know that and were mad their clock was
 seemingly broken on the journey from Holland to the colonies, but
 worked perfectly fine when they sent it back to the clock maker for
 repair.

 -- Chris Caudle

 1. https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/physics-first-clock-america-failed/

Hi Chris, Thanks for posting. That article has been making the rounds on the 'net recently although it was written in 2018. Like you say it has a bit of a pop-sci or even clickbait feel. It's an interesting story and contains valid bits of horology and physics but given the tone and content we did some fact checking before your posting went out to time-nuts. Sure enough, the author (Ethan Siegel) confirmed by email he never found historical evidence but had simply heard the anecdote as an undergrad and spun it into the well-written article that you linked to. I'd say it falls into a similar category as the watchmaker & noon cannon story: https://febo.com/pipermail/time-nuts_lists.febo.com/2014-February/064958.html /tvb On 9/15/2023 2:36 PM, chris--- via time-nuts wrote: > I just saw this article from a couple of weeks ago which describes how > the first highly accurate clocks imported to America did not run at the > correct rate, and left the clockmakers scratching their heads at the > time. > > [1]https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/physics-first-clock-america- > failed/ > > It is a pop-sci type article, no citations provided, so I wouldn't be > surprised if it turned out that the experienced clock makers of the > time actually did know that "of course you have to recalibrate your > pendulum if you move to the Alps or move to Cairo" but apparently the > customers in Boston didn't know that and were mad their clock was > seemingly broken on the journey from Holland to the colonies, but > worked perfectly fine when they sent it back to the clock maker for > repair. > > -- Chris Caudle > > References > > 1. https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/physics-first-clock-america-failed/ > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@lists.febo.com > To unsubscribe send an email to time-nuts-leave@lists.febo.com >

 I just saw this article from a couple of weeks ago which describes how
 the first highly accurate clocks imported to America did not run at the
 correct rate, and left the clockmakers scratching their heads at the
 time.

 [1]https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/physics-first-clock-america-
 failed/

 It is a pop-sci type article, no citations provided, so I wouldn't be
 surprised if it turned out that the experienced clock makers of the
 time actually did know that "of course you have to recalibrate your
 pendulum if you move to the Alps or move to Cairo" but apparently the
 customers in Boston didn't know that and were mad their clock was
 seemingly broken on the journey from Holland to the colonies, but
 worked perfectly fine when they sent it back to the clock maker for
 repair.

 -- Chris Caudle

 1. https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/physics-first-clock-america-fai

On Sep 19 2023, at 10:30 am, Tom Van Baak via time-nuts <time-nuts@lists.febo.com> wrote: Thanks for posting. That article has been making the rounds on the 'net recently although it was written in 2018. Like you say it has a bit of a pop-sci or even clickbait feel. It's an interesting story and contains valid bits of horology and physics but given the tone and content we did some fact checking before your posting went out to time-nuts. I found the article interesting even if the basis story is a bit post-apocryphal because the author explained the background of the dependence of pendulum behavior on both length and gravitation, and worked out the performance differences you can expect for different gravitational acceleration values. It is kind of a gentle introduction to time-nuttiness for casual observers, or young students who are still at the "assume gravity is 9.8m/s/s" stage of their physics education. If not for that I would have just blown it off as "seems unlikely they wouldn't just adjust the pendulum bob based on astronomical observations." The one thing which would make the article better is actual confirmed gravitational values at Amsterdam and Boston to add into the table of how fast or slow a 0.994m pendulum would swing at various gravitational acceleration values to show what actual magnitude of difference would be expected. -- Chris C On Sep 19 2023, at 10:30 am, Tom Van Baak via time-nuts <time-nuts@lists.febo.com> wrote: Hi Chris, Thanks for posting. That article has been making the rounds on the 'net recently although it was written in 2018. Like you say it has a bit of a pop-sci or even clickbait feel. It's an interesting story and contains valid bits of horology and physics but given the tone and content we did some fact checking before your posting went out to time-nuts. Sure enough, the author (Ethan Siegel) confirmed by email he never found historical evidence but had simply heard the anecdote as an undergrad and spun it into the well-written article that you linked to. I'd say it falls into a similar category as the watchmaker & noon cannon story: https://febo.com/pipermail/time-nuts_lists.febo.com/2014-February/064958.html /tvb On 9/15/2023 2:36 PM, chris--- via time-nuts wrote: > I just saw this article from a couple of weeks ago which describes how > the first highly accurate clocks imported to America did not run at the > correct rate, and left the clockmakers scratching their heads at the > time. > > [1]https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/physics-first-clock-america- > failed/ > > It is a pop-sci type article, no citations provided, so I wouldn't be > surprised if it turned out that the experienced clock makers of the > time actually did know that "of course you have to recalibrate your > pendulum if you move to the Alps or move to Cairo" but apparently the > customers in Boston didn't know that and were mad their clock was > seemingly broken on the journey from Holland to the colonies, but > worked perfectly fine when they sent it back to the clock maker for > repair. > > -- Chris Caudle > > References > > 1. https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/physics-first-clock-america-fai led/ > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@lists.febo.com > To unsubscribe send an email to time-nuts-leave@lists.febo.com > _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@lists.febo.com To unsubscribe send an email to time-nuts-leave@lists.febo.com