Dec 22, 2025 · Sundial, the earliest type of timekeeping device, which indicates the time of day by the position of the shadow of some object exposed to the sun’s rays. As the day progresses, the sun …

The term sundial can refer to any device that uses the Sun's altitude or azimuth (or both) to show the time. Sundials are valued as decorative objects, metaphors, and objects of intrigue and mathematical …

This set of pages explains, with diagrams, how a sundial works. It begins with the simplest (equatorial) dial where the shadow of a stick (the gnomon) falls on hour lines every 15 degrees apart, and then …

Aug 30, 2025 · A sundial is an ancient device designed to indicate the time of day by using the apparent position of the sun in the sky. It relies on direct sunlight to cast a shadow.

A sundial is a device that measures time by the position of the Sun. In common designs such as the horizontal sundial, the Sun casts a shadow from the gnomon, which is a thin rod straight edge, onto …

Sep 6, 2019 · What is a sundial? Formally, it is a chronometer (i.e., a timepiece) that uses the shade produced by sunlight falling on a vertical rod to show local time.

For thousands of years, the sundial has told the time and divided the day. No doubt the first crude sundial consisted of no more than a vertical stake in the ground.

May 30, 2021 · For Indiana University outreach shecreated a video "The Garden Sundial - Much More than an Ornament" that presents a brief history of the sundial, how they work, and where to get one …

The meaning of SUNDIAL is an instrument to show the time of day by the shadow of a gnomon on a usually horizontal plate or on a cylindrical surface.

Feb 19, 2024 · FAQ Here are answers to some common questions about sundials: What is a sundial? A sundial is a device used to tell time using the Sun and the movement of a specific shadow during the …