Time is money. Time is the essence of life. Time, well, is what matters. Knowing the time is very important especially as you grow and become a busy person. This article is for anyone who wants to learn how to tell the time. Read on to find some helpful hints and tips.
Step
Method 1 of 4: The Basic Techniques
Step 1. Find a wall clock that works
On this watch, you will see that there are many numbers and three arrows, which are also known as clock hands.
- One needle is very thin and moves very quickly. This hand is called the second hand. Each time this needle moves, then one second has passed.
- Another hand was thick and long like the second hand. Every time this needle moved a little, a minute had passed. Every 60 times this needle moves, then one hour has passed.
- The last needle is also thick, but smaller than the long needle. This needle is called a short needle. Every time this needle moved in one big step, an hour had passed. Every 24 times this needle moves, then one day has passed.
Step 2. Understand the relationship between seconds, minutes, and hours
Seconds, minutes, and hours are measures of the same thing: time. These three things are not the same thing, but they measure the same thing.
- Every 60 seconds counts as one minute. 60 seconds, or 1 minute, is the time it takes the second hand to move from 12 to back to 12.
- Every 60 minutes counts as an hour. 60 minutes, or 1 hour, is the time it takes the long hand to move from 12 to back to 12.
- Every 24 hours counts as one day. 24 hours, or one day, is the time it takes the short hand to move from 12 to back to 12, then repeat one more round.
Step 3. Look at the numbers on the clock
You will notice that there are a lot of numbers on the clock. These numbers are made in ascending order, which means they increase in size with their location on the circle of a clock. There are numbers from 1 to 12.
Step 4. Know that each hand on a clock moves in a circle and goes in the same direction
We call this direction "clockwise." This movement is in the order of the digits, so it is as if the clock is counting from 1 to 12. The hands always move in this direction when the clock is functioning properly.
Method 2 of 4: Reading the Clock
Step 1. Look at the number indicated by the short needle (the small and thick needle)
This number will indicate the time of day. The short hand always points to the larger numbers on a clock.
Step 2. Be aware that, often times, the short hand will point between two numbers
When this happens, the time of day is always lower.
So, if the short hand is pointing between 5 and 6 on the clock, it means it's 5-over, because 5 is the lower number
Step 3. Know that if the short hand points exactly to a large number, then this means that the stroke is exactly what the number indicates
For example, if this small and thick short hand points to exactly 9, then it is 9 o'clock exactly.
Step 4. As the short hand points closer to a large number, the long hand approaches 12
When the long hand reaches 12, the next clock will start.
Method 3 of 4: Reading Minutes
Step 1. Look at the number indicated by the long needle (the thick and long needle)
This number will show the minutes of the day. Notice the small lines between the large numbers. These lines represent minutes, although any large number will also represent a minute in addition to an hour. Read how many minutes are indicated by counting each small line as one minute, starting at 12.
Step 2. Use multiples of five
When the long hand points to a large number on a clock, use a multiple of five to calculate how many minutes it represents.
For example, if the long hand points exactly to 3, multiply 3 by five to get 15. "15" is the number of minutes that have elapsed on a clock
Step 3. Read the minutes using multiples of five, plus the small lines between each large number
When the long hand points between a large number on the clock, find the nearest large number it has passed, multiply this number by 5, and add the number according to the number of lines between it. There are four small lines between each large number.
For example, if the long hand is pointing between 2 and 3, first read the number 2. Multiply 2 by 5, so you get 10. Then count the number of lines needed from 10 minutes to the point indicated by the long hand.: there are two lines there, which means it has now passed 10+2 minutes = 12 minutes
Step 4. Know the exact location of the long hand when the short hand is pointing exactly at a number
When the short hand points to a large number on a clock, the long hand always points to 12.
This is because the clock is changing, so the long hand starts again. If the short hand is pointing at exactly 5 and the long hand is pointing exactly at 12, it means it's 5 o'clock
Method 4 of 4: Reading Everything Together
Step 1. Find out the location of the short hand in this example
The short hand is pointing at exactly 6, which means it's 6 o'clock right now. If the short hand is pointing exactly at the number 6, then this means the long hand will point exactly at the number 12.
Step 2. Find out the location of the long needle in this example
The long hand is 2 lines in front of the number 9. So how do we determine the minutes at this hour?
First, we'll multiply 9 by 5 to get 45. Then we'll add 2 lines to 45, so we get 47. So 47 minutes have passed at this time
Step 3. Find out the location of the long and short needles in this example
The short hand is between 11 and 12, while the long hand is 4 lines in front of the number 3. How do we read it this time?
First, read the punches. Since the short hand is between 11 and 12, we will choose a lower number. This means it's 11-plus now. Next, let's read the minutes. We have to multiply 3 by 5. The result is 15. Now, we need to add all 4 lines by 15, so we get the result 19. There are 19 minutes that have passed at this o'clock, and the o'clock itself is 11. So, the current time is 11:19 am
Tips
- If you have a digital clock, knowing the time will be even easier!
- Some hands may have a hand that ticks every second, which resembles a long hand and also goes through 60 movements each time it goes around the clock. The only difference is that these hands measure seconds, not minutes, and you can tell the difference by watching how fast they move.
- In some countries, if 12:00 noon has not passed, then the time is called AM. If 12:00 noon has passed, then the time is PM.
