12-23-12, 02:24 PM | #1 |
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Why are clocks 12h, not 24h?
I got thinking about this today. Ever seen a clock face with 24 hours, instead of 12? I've seen one, but they are very hard to come by. Why? Why is it that we divide the day into 24 hours, yet we build our clocks to show only 12? Why does the hour hand have to go around twice each day? I know of many situations when this has lead to confusion, so why have we held on to the 12 hour clock face for so long?
At first I thought it has to do with tradition, nature, etc. but the sun goes by overhead only once per day, so a sundial's "hand" wouldn't go around twice.
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