2015-Goodnow, Jennifer, Richard Orr, and David Ross - Mathematical Models of Water Clocks.

By Jennifer Goodenow1, Richard Orr1, David Ross1

1. Mathematics, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester NY USA

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Goodnow, Jennifer, Richard Orr, and David Ross. 2015. Mathematical Models of Water Clocks.  18 pp. http://www.nawcc-index.net/Articles/Goodenow-WaterClocks.pdf . Accessed 22 May 2015.  Mathematics, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester NY USA.

This is a historical tour of water clocks, known as clepsydra a Greek word meaning water thief. These devices were for telling time. Many variations are offered and then the mathematical analysis based on Bernoulli's Law and Torricelli's Law develops the shapes of the containers so that the water falls at a constant rate or that markers on the container put forth correct timings.

The analysis is detiled, but the resulting graphics are convincing.

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Researchers should cite this work as follows:

  • Jennifer Goodenow; Richard Orr; David Ross (2015), "2015-Goodnow, Jennifer, Richard Orr, and David Ross - Mathematical Models of Water Clocks.," https://www.simiode.org/resources/1002.

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