From Sundials to Ticks: The Fascinating Journey Through Time

The LUMS Math Circle event, titled "From Sundials to Ticks: The fascinating journey through Time," held special significance as it marked the first collaborative effort between a faculty member, Dr. Waqas Ali Azhar from SBASSE, and a sophomore Physics major student, Mr. Syed Asad Asif, at LUMS. Mr. Asif, a science enthusiast, made substantial contributions to the design of the activities for this circle.

The circle commenced at 5 PM with Dr. Waqas prompting participants to note the time, removing the clock from the room, and posing the question, "How would you measure time now?" An hourglass on the table and a marked number on the blackboard set the stage for the exploration of time measurement methods before clocks. Participants engaged in a discussion, with some surprising mentions of sundials, one of the planned activities for the event. 

Dr. Waqas and Mr. Asad took participants on a journey through time, beginning by asking them to name the most ancient civilization. "Mesopotamian" was correctly answered by one participant, leading to a discussion on how Sumerians used celestial objects to measure time. The Sumerians employed a base-60 system, dividing each hour, minute, and second, a practice still present in modern clocks. The use of lunar cycles for tracking weeks and months was also explained. With the hourglass emptied, Dr. Waqas flipped it and wrote another number on the blackboard.

Dr. Waqas pointed out a flaw in the Sumerian system—they couldn't determine the exact time of day. The journey continued with a discussion on how the Egyptians, known for their grand structures, used an Obelisk to design a clock. Sundials, gadgets that tell time by considering the shadow cast by an object, were introduced. Participants engaged in a hands-on activity, creating their sundials. The hourglass emptied again, marking another number on the blackboard.

Participants astutely pointed out the limitation of sundials at night, prompting Dr. Waqas to ask, "How can we solve this problem?" The instructors introduced the Water Clock, addressing issues such as varying pressure. Ctesibius's solution, considering the time period of increasing water level, was explained, with the same concept employed in Hourglass and Candle clocks. The second activity involved making an hourglass, and participants used it to measure time, leading to another mark on the blackboard as the hourglass emptied.

The session continued with a video explaining the intricate mechanism of Al-Jazari's Elephant clock from 1100 CE, providing insights into mechanical clocks. Another mark appeared on the blackboard.

The exploration progressed to modern clocks, with the instructors emphasizing the significance of pendulums. Dr. Imran Anwar shared fascinating facts about Galileo Galilei, who used pendulums to support the idea of Earth's motion around the Sun. The concept of a pendulum clock, with a time period of 1 second, was introduced, patented by Dutch engineer Christiaan Huygens in 1665. The hourglass emptied again, marking another point on the blackboard. Dr. Waqas delved into more modern clocks, including quartz and atomic clocks.

Mr. Asad posed a more serious question, "What exactly is Time?" He explored early philosophers' ideas about time, including Allama Iqbal's views. The session peaked with a brief explanation of Einstein's general theory of relativity, surprising participants, evident from their expressions. Another mark appeared on the board.

Dr. Waqas revealed the hourglass duration (15 minutes) and asked participants to guess the time, all of whom guessed correctly.
The session concluded with certificate distribution by esteemed visiting foreign faculty Dr. Charlene Kalle. Participants received doughnut boxes as they left for their homes, contentedly concluding the event.

A resounding applause goes to Mr. Syed Asad Asif for his invaluable contributions to this Math Circle. His dedication and enthusiasm have truly enriched the experience for all participants. We extend our heartfelt wishes for continued success and eagerly anticipate future collaborations with Mr. Asif.

Here are some highlights from the event:

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Instructors: