Episodes

6 episodes in this season

The Secret Life of the Car

The Secret Life of the Internal Combustion Engine

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The Secret Life of the Quartz Watch

The Secret Life of the Telephone

The Secret Life of the Radio Set

The Secret Life of the Video Recorder

The Secret Life of Machines

TV Series

198830m8.1

Documentary

Now playing

The Secret Life of the Quartz Watch

Season 2 · Episode 3 · Jan 22, 1991

All clocks and watches work by 'counting' some event which takes a fixed period of time, like the swings of a pendulum. The higher it goes the stronger the pull of gravity and the faster it comes back - so the swings always take a fixed time. The Quartz crystal in a watch vibrates at a fixed speed in a similar way. Episode Contents: Models: A stick. Demonstration of liquid crystal technology with metal coated glass plates and polarized sunglasses. Machines: Many of Tim's large outdoor clocks. A water clock by Rex. Guests: A 400 year old pendulum alarm clock. Various antique pocket watches. Different watch models track the evolution of quartz and digital watches. Films: Goofy 1940's wristwatch commercial ("Hey kids come on a running!") Almost as silly 70's ad for the first bulky LED watch. Extro: Oven door blooper and a melting digital watch.

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The Secret Life of Machines

TV Series

198830m8.1

Documentary

Now playing

The Secret Life of the Quartz Watch

Season 2 · Episode 3 · Jan 22, 1991

More details