How an Atomic Clock Works
WT-4144P Classic Atomic Wall Clock 
|
WS-8117U-IT-OAK Digital Atomic Clock 
|
WT-3181P Outdoor Atomic Wall Clock 
|
I thought I should give a decent scientific explanation on how an atomic clock works. It is a little technical, but I'm sure I can give you a decent run down of how it works and how it can give you very accurate time.
Essentially the technology behind it is atomic resonance. Basically this is a frequency in which atoms vibrate at that has been shown to be quite consistent. Other methods of recording time used the same idea of following a frequency, but the frequency was never really that consistent and that is why clocks would get ahead or behind over time.
I think it is important for me to explain that this isn't a radioactive nuclear thing. It's basically done with microwaves that are emitted from the electrons of atoms. Basically this microwave comes out when they change energy levels.
There are different types of atomic clocks, which is to say that they use different atoms. Basically you have Cesium, Hydrogen and Rubidium. They all have their own unique frequency that they vibrate at. I'm going to spare you the actual chemistry of what occurs to get that number, but the idea is to check when the frequency hits the right amount. At that point you just have to multiple it by a constant to give you one second and recalibrate the clock.
That might be a little hard to understand, so let me give you a more visual example. Let's say a car drove past your house every minute, exactly. Every 60 seconds on the dot, it would go by your house. You still have your regular clock that works on the crystal technology (older). As the clock gets slower, you just look out the window and see when the car goes by. Once you know when it goes by, you adjust the clock and you have the right time.
It's an unrealistic example, but it demonstrates how it works. All this calibration occurs right in the atomic clock, so you really don't see any of this stuff. But that is essentially how it works.
|
WT-4144P Classic Atomic Wall Clock
|
WS-8117U-IT-OAK Digital Atomic Clock
|
WT-3181P Outdoor Atomic Wall Clock
|