Always known for showing Greenwich Mean Time (GMT),
chronometer is an instrument that is kept on ships to keep an accurate time.
The chief use of a chronometer on the ship is for the purpose
of Astro-Navigation. In this, natural element Sun is mainly used. The sun’s
altitude alters rather quickly. If an error of even four seconds is made then
you are talking about an error of one nautical mile in the observed position.
For keeping a ship’s routine in check, accurate time is of utmost
importance. This is where chronometer comes in, which helps in maintaining
ship’s routine with its immaculate accuracy. As of now, it is the GPS system
that is employed for both the purposes. But still, if a need arise for an
alternative method, then a chronometer always come to the rescue. The codeof federal regulations have some guidelines for marine to follow. Those
guidelines also stress on keeping the ship’s routine always in check.
Types
There is the spring tension chronometer and the electronic
quartz crystal chronometer. The former uses a balance wheel and for regulation,
a spiral spring instead of a pendulum.
The latter is a clock that constitutes of an electric
oscillator. In this, a quartz crystal is present that regulates the oscillator
to maintain the correct time. This oscillator is known for producing a signal
with super accurate frequency which translates into quartz clocking magnitude a
lot more precise than the mechanical clocks
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