Space, GPS & MapsPrecision Measurement
The Atomic Clock
The most precise clocks count the vibrations inside atoms
Your watch drifts by seconds every month. The best clocks drift one second in hundreds of millions of years. What could tick that steadily?
You'll find out
- What every clock is really made of
- The number that defines one second
- Why your phone's map depends on it
Why it matters
Phone networks, bank transfers and the map in your pocket all lean on clocks that count atoms.
Play this lesson
Free to play in your browser or on iPhone