If all of technology got wiped of its memory, and we lose all power, all the batteries die, and every watch, clock, phone, news station, oven, microwave, satilite and etc. stopped working... how do we know what time it is?
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answers:
Who say: In those circumstances why would we want to know the time?
There would only be 2 possibly 3 things you would want to know regarding "the time"
is is nighttime?
is it daytime?
(is it midday?)
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say: It can be determined by observing the position of the sun in the sky. When cross-referenced with a known latitude and date, the time of sunrise, midday and sunset can be calculated and other hours can be extrapolated from that. However, complete loss of time-keeping it isn't likely to happen. You have ten million times greater chance of dying accidentally by choking on your next meal.
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darkcloud say: It wouldn't really matter , if we loose electricity utter chaos is going to take over , and there well be a lot of death happening the days of the old west will come back . and Justus will be a thing of the past . people will have to hide to survive , time is going to be from sunrise to sunset , and no one will be keeping track . Chaos utter Chaos
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jehen say: The same way we did before. The sun and the stars. Clocks are 'technology' to be sure, but there are millions that require no electricity - they are powered by springs, gravity or motion.
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ProfGene.Togolot say: There are sundials
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Paper Dragon say: Well if gravity and gears still work, use a grandfather clock.
If gravity doesn't work, you only have to worry about the time until the earth freezes, since gravity will no longer hold it in orbit around the sun.
If gears and springs still work (i.e. basic properties of metals have not changed) use a pocket watch. And remember to wind it.
Optics, light, and stars still work? Use a sextant.
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Sir Caustic say: How do we know what time *is*?
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rmm say: Sundials - there are a few still around here and there.
Sun shadows, sun rise, sun set.
Basically, same way it was done before power and mechanical time keepers.
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