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Atomic Clocks

MrMuffinMan

Entry posted by MrMuffinMan

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Atomic clocks are the most accurate clocks we have and without them, everyone's time could be a little off which would mean GPS navigation would be impossible and other things that rely on exact timing, like space flight wouldn't work. Most atomic clocks are made of cesium and measure the frequency of oscillation. Cesium atoms are given energy in the form of heat and this causes the atoms to change energy states and start oscillating at their principal resonance which is a know value. Measuring the resonance of the Cesium and dividing it by the principal resonance the clock can measure 1 second almost exactly

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MrMuffinMan

The US navy has a Master Clock which is an atomic clock that sets the time standard of the DoD and the rest of the government.

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