Minutes and seconds are extremely small units of measurement in time, but they play an integral role in our daily lives. The method of calculating minutes and seconds is not arbitrary, but the result of rigorous scientific research and experimentation.
First, let's understand the origin of minutes and seconds. In ancient times, people used the movement of the sun to measure time. By observing the rising and setting of the sun, they determined the length of day and night, and they divided the day into 24 hours. Subsequently, the hour was divided more precisely. Originally, an hour was divided into 60 minutes, and a minute was divided into 60 seconds. This division is based on astronomical observations and the principle of equal division of time, which ensures the accuracy and uniformity of time.
To measure minutes and seconds, ancient astronomers and mathematicians used a variety of tools and methods. The easiest way to do this is to observe the movement of the sun through a mechanical timer. A sundial, for example, is a tool that uses the sun's projection to keep time. By observing the change in the position of the shadows on the sundial, one can roughly estimate the time. However, this method is greatly affected by weather and geographical location, and the error is large.
As time goes on, people are measuring time more and more accurately. In the Middle Ages, people began to use water clocks and mechanical clocks to keep time. These clocks count time by dripping water and the rotation of gears. Although these clocks are more accurate than sundials, they still have errors and uncertainties.
In order to measure minutes and seconds more accurately, people began to use more advanced technologies and methods. For example, scientists such as Galileo Galilei used devices such as pendulums and springs to study the principle of dividing time. They found that the oscillating period of a single pendulum is proportional to the square root of the pendulum length, while the vibration period of a spring is proportional to the square root of the amplitude. These findings provide a more precise basis for the measurement of time.
In modern society, people have reached a high degree of accuracy in measuring time. Using high-precision timekeepers such as atomic clocks, one can measure units of time down to nanoseconds or even less. Atomic clocks use the frequency of atomic energy level transitions as a reference to keep time, and their accuracy is astonishingly high.
In short, the method of calculating minutes and seconds is the result of rigorous scientific research and experimentation. From the earliest sundials to modern atomic clocks, people have measured time more and more accurately. Although we already have high-precision timers, minutes and seconds still play an important role in our daily lives as the basic units of time.