What a curiously mesmerizing contraption. So perfectly round and detailed, and slightly out of reach, as though the object is meant to be seen, but not touched. Numeric symbols, ranging between one and twelve, run along the border of the circle, and each number is separated from its two neighboring numbers by four small dashes that are all perpendicular to the circle's edge. The number twelve is at the very top, with the number one directly to the right.
There are also three objects resembling compass needles stemming from the center of the circle. The thickest needle is slightly shorter than the remaining two and black, as is the medium-sized one. The thinnest needle, however, is red, and jumps quickly to the right in time to a strange ticking noise that seems to be coming from the circle itself. The red needle is rotating around the circle as it jumps from one dash or number to the next.
As I watch in fascination, I notice that the long, black needle slowly rotates to the right as well. With my continued obvervations, I am able to conclude that this black needle also travels between dashes, and it reaches a new dash each time the red needle completes a full rotation and reaches the top of the cirlce where the twelve is.
Just as the long, black needle enters the area near the number two, I realize with a jolt that the short, black needle has shifted from its original position between the three and the four to a point just past the four. I recover from my initial shock and resume my calculations, this time focusing on the short needle.
After a lot of time has past, the sluggish, short needle reaches the five just as the longer needle completes a full rotation at the twelve. At this revelation, I consider the relationship between the short needle's movements and a full rotation of the longer needle.
Finally, one rotation and three thousand six hundred red needle ticks later, the short needle moves from the five to the six, and my suspicions are confirmed. I now know that the short needle moves from one number to the next in the time it takes the longer needle to complete one rotation, which is equal to sixty rotations of the red needle. Though the purpose of this circular device is still a mystery to me, I am nevertheless impressed by its methods and functions, not to mention its impeccable timing!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I like how you related each of the needles' movements to the others, you were very meticulous about your observations. Even though it became pretty obvious, a clock is a hard object to describe in that way. It was an enjoyable post to read and you did a good job.
ReplyDeletehaha i loves the last line. so clever!
ReplyDelete