How Do Clocks Work Without Electricity?

Mechanical clocks don’t need batteries or plugs, they use a spring inside them. When you wind it, the spring tightens and stores energy like a coiled up snake. As the clock ticks, the spring slowly unwinds, making gears turn and hands move around the face of the clock. It’s like having a little engine hidden inside that keeps time going without any help from electricity!

Take the quiz →

Examples

  1. A kitchen timer with a winding knob keeps working even after it’s unwound once.
  2. A grandfather clock keeps ticking as its weight slowly lowers down.
  3. Wind-up toys run on the same kind of spring energy that mechanical clocks use.

Ask a question

See also

Discussion

Recent activity

Nothing here yet.