Page 2 of 6
Re: Make the most of your extra second
Posted: Wed 31 Dec, 2008 18.05
by Ebeneezer Scrooge
How do they do that? Does it suggest that Big Ben is 1 second out at the moment, in preparation for the midnight bong? I can't imagine they'd have someone up there waiting to add a second at the right time!
Re: Make the most of your extra second
Posted: Wed 31 Dec, 2008 18.11
by Jovis
Well no, I imagine because it will start chiming at 12.00am, and the second will be before, therefore there will be no need for an extra chime.
Re: Make the most of your extra second
Posted: Wed 31 Dec, 2008 18.12
by marksi
Ebeneezer Scrooge wrote:How do they do that? Does it suggest that Big Ben is 1 second out at the moment, in preparation for the midnight bong? I can't imagine they'd have someone up there waiting to add a second at the right time!
They are slowing the pendulum down slightly over the course of the evening, which gets it to accuracy by 00:00:00.
(Information courtesy of tonight's PM on Radio 4).
Re: Make the most of your extra second
Posted: Wed 31 Dec, 2008 18.16
by Gavin Scott
Ebeneezer Scrooge wrote:How do they do that? Does it suggest that Big Ben is 1 second out at the moment, in preparation for the midnight bong? I can't imagine they'd have someone up there waiting to add a second at the right time!
They've used the traditional method - adding or removing coins from the swinging pendulum changes the speed of the ticks by 2/5 of a second over a period of time. How long a period I can't recall, but they've adjusted the pendulum weight recently to take the correction into account.
Re: Make the most of your extra second
Posted: Wed 31 Dec, 2008 18.54
by Stuart*
Gavin Scott wrote:They've used the traditional method - adding or removing coins from the swinging pendulum changes the speed of the ticks by 2/5 of a second over a period of time. How long a period I can't recall, but they've adjusted the pendulum weight recently to take the correction into account.
IIRC from the report I saw on BBC News this morning they said it was 2/5 of a second each day by the removal of a pre-decimal penny, so that would meas they started the adjustment sometime on Monday to make it correct for midnight tonight.
I doubt someone is there to put the penny back on at midnight, so their adjustments may already be complete - technically making the clock a second ahead until midnight (not that anyone will notice).
Re: Make the most of your extra second
Posted: Wed 31 Dec, 2008 19.07
by marksi
Stuart* wrote:I doubt someone is there to put the penny back on at midnight, so their adjustments may already be complete - technically making the clock a second ahead until midnight (not that anyone will notice).
The importance of Big Ben in the Nation's new year celebrations means that in fact there are TWO teams of clockmakers on duty at the Palace of Westminster in case of any problems tonight.
Re: Make the most of your extra second
Posted: Wed 31 Dec, 2008 19.28
by Nini
This is very informative, I'm sure to win at the pub quiz next week!
Re: Make the most of your extra second
Posted: Wed 31 Dec, 2008 21.00
by Beep
ah, Three hours left of 2008
Re: Make the most of your extra second
Posted: Wed 31 Dec, 2008 21.03
by Sput
The lady who interprets the current time for me just popped out for a fag so thanks for pointing that out.
Re: Make the most of your extra second
Posted: Thu 01 Jan, 2009 00.00
by cdd
Yay @ being the first to say happy new year on metorpol! In not really the right thread but it's too late to change. My excuse for being on metropol right now? I'm in a different time zone.
Re: Make the most of your extra second
Posted: Thu 01 Jan, 2009 00.03
by Sput
Happy new year! My excuse is that, in this non-manchester place, it's less depressing to be at home than to be out.