Mahidol University International Demonstration School

Experiment: Sundial
Astronomy: 12 - 03

By:
Waritsaree Aroonrassmeechot
Lertphipak Pakchaporn
Sooyoung Yoon

Instructor: Mr. Gopinath

Introduction
 Sundial is one of the earliest device made to keep track of time.
Through generations of developments, from the flourishing emergence of
civilization to our modern society, the mechanism was then developed into
gadgets that are well known of; watches and clocks. Tracing back to the
original emergence, which was around 3500 BC, the Egyptians and the
Babylonians were the two significant inventors that were responsible for
the extraordinary invention, though not only did the Sundial acquired the
ability to keep time with the use of sunlight but it is also capable of utilizing
the celestial bodies to precisely measure time. After several centuries,
Greek philosophers had the access towards the creation and were
fascinated by its capability and that they decided to innovate the Sundial
with their advancements upon Mathematics and Scientific knowledge.
Innovation upon the device resulted the birth of Geometry, Calculus and
a universal Sundial. The study of Sundial became the key for
astronomers to unlock the potential understandings upon space, stars and
many more.

Materials
These were the materials
used to make the Sundial:
Glue sticks

Glue
gun

Thin (Japanese) wood block Cutter

Permanent Marker

Acrylic colour
Method and procedures
The methods and procedures that were applied onto making the Sundial
are as the following steps:
As mentioned above upon the materials that would be used, first, we
have to print the Sundial template from an internet as a model to create our
sundial. Then we draw the Sundial with a pencil of the exact scale of the
template on the thin (Japanese) wood block, add on some design. We start
to cut the Sundial we drafted with a cutter, decorate the Sundial with an
acrylic colour and collect all those number and line details with a
permanent marker when it is dry already. Lastly, we stick our Sundial
figures with a glue gun. The process and final version of the Sundial is
shown in the pictures below.
Experiment
Experiments were taken on days that the Sun is present, although
there must be least cloud possible to ensure that there will be little to no
error upon the experiment. The experiment was taken place continuously
for 3 days, at the same surrounding area with the same Sundial, which 2 out
of 3 experimentation has been a success. Below displays the experimental
results as well as notes that were taken into consideration due to failures to
which the notes were written to clarify the concerning errors. The
experiment took part in a specified environmental condition and
arrangement as followed:

Area: Open area (Schools field)

Time: 12:30 p.m. - 1-10 p.m. (1-2 minutes each round for every 20 minutes
passed)
Experimenter: Waritsaree Aroonrassmeechot (experimenter), Sooyoung
Yoon (timekeeper), Lertphipak Pakchaporn (tracker & analyzer)
Day 1:
The Sundial was taken out into the open area to which it seemed that
the condition of the experimenting area was quite compatible for the
experiment to be hold. We have taken the model out to test at 12:30 -
12:31 & 12:32 pm., which it is on the 1st set of the test period, then we
proceeded on taking the model out to test for the 2nd set of the test period
to which it was at 12:52 - 12:54 pm. Both results were successful, then the
last set of the test procedure was taken out to test for the 3rd time, which
this is the final procedure upon the Sundial. The last result has also turned
out to be quite successful as well. Therefore, the first day of the
experimenting procedure as turned out to be quite a success.

Area: Open area (Schools field)

Time: 12:30 p.m. - 1-10 p.m. (1-2 minutes each round for every 20 minutes
passed)
Experimenter: Waritsaree Aroonrassmeechot (experimenter), Sooyoung
Yoon (timekeeper), Lertphipak Pakchaporn (tracker & analyzer)
Day 2:
Upon the second day, the model was taken out to have an
experiment, although it the experiment was incapable to have an effective
result, due to the fact that the condition of the weather was not compatible
enough. The results were not as satisfying as it was expected to be, there
were several errors ongoing throughout the experiment; shadows, not
enough sunlight. The 1st round of the experiment happens to have the
intervention of the shadow casted by the clouds. On the 2nd round of the
experiment, the result was again intervened by the shadow of the clouds.
Lastly at the 3rd round of the experiment, there were no results due to the
fact that the experiment time happen to clash with the inevitable situation,
which is the fact that the sunlight was not emitted enough for the
experiment to be held. In conclusion, the experiment within this day was
not successful.

Area: Open area (Schools field)

Time: 12:30 p.m. - 1-10 p.m. (1-2 minutes each round for every 20 minutes
passed)
Experimenter: Waritsaree Aroonrassmeechot (experimenter), Sooyoung
Yoon (timekeeper), Lertphipak Pakchaporn (tracker & analyzer)
Day 3:
Within this experimenting period, 2 out of 3 experiments were
successful to which we have taken the result to be successful due to the
fact that the error that caused the experiment to fail is fairly inevitable. The
errors occurred at the 3 set of the experiment, happens to be due to the
rain that showered through. To which these are the given evaluation of the
experiment. Upon the 1st experiment, there was no error at all to which the
result happens to be successful. The 2nd experiment, it was also considered
a success as well, although on the 3rd experiment, there has been another
inevitable situation due to the fact that the rain happens to shower the
whole area, therefore the experiment was not compatible enough to be
held. Although weve decided to make this experiment successful due to
the fact that the additional results seem to compensate to the errors
occurred within experiments.

Result
The experiment has turned out to be quite successful to which the
model is capable of measuring time, within the central destination, through
the use of the coordinated area. To which we were able to implement the
destination as Bangkok, to give the sundials use a precise measurement. In
conclusion, the Sundial model for this experiment is a success as for the
fact that there were more of the inevitable errors rather than the technical
issues, to which the experiment distributes accurate measurements of time.

Conclusion
The Sundial, one of the most genius creation that human has ever
made to track the time, during the past era. It can indicate the time through
the use of shadow, casting on the Sundial from the sunlight. We
successfully made the Sundial beautifully and learn how people in the past
watch a time in this particular tool. Even we currently have the tools such
as a clock that can indicate the time more accurately, but the Sundial is also
the tool that rich in history and count as an origin of tools that indicate
time throughout human history. The Sundial can be directly related to the
studies we learnt in our Astrology class. We understand Astrology is very
important to human being. We understand further that the Sun, the star we
all familiar with, can be connected with humanity and make such a huge
impact to our revolution and life. We can value the Sundial for their
craftsmanship and also in historical way. It is one of a good opportunity we
have experienced in our high school period.

Recommendation
There are several factors that would improve our project; one of the
most important aspect that should be considered thoroughly is the
accuracy. The accuracy upon making the Sundial is considered to be the
key of the device, without proper precision, the device would not serve its
purpose. To which, it is recommended to focus on the drafting process.
Within the drafting process, the base of the Sundial to be measured
precisely whilst making multiple samples through the use of different
materials. Secondly, in order to improve the beauty of the Sundial,
decorating the Sundial with other materials, such as: glitters, drawing some
pictures on it, would improve and attract attention. Another point of
recommendation we have is towards the consideration upon the weather
and season. During the period that the project is held, the condition and
environment should be properly explored before the experiment is taken in
action.

Reference
The Editors of Encyclopdia Britannica. (2016, December 08). Sundial.
Retrieved November 09, 2017, from
https://www.britannica.com/technology/sundial
The Editors of Encyclopdia Britannica. (2017, July 07). Gnomon.
Retrieved November 09, 2017, from
https://www.britannica.com/technology/gnomon-timekeeping-device
When Time Began: The History and Science of Sundials. (n.d.). Retrieved
November 09, 2017, from

Intro:
This is the experiment about Sundial and how its made, the model
was invented during the Babylonian era and it is also well known during the
Egyptian. Due to how advanced it is and also due to how this invention
could lead to further advancements, astronomers and scientists desired for
it, which later on Greek scientists and astronomers were able to get a hold
of the invention and developed such device into further technological
advancements.

Method & Procedures:

The methods and procedures used for the experiment are as the following:
First of all, there are specified duties towards the experiment, to prevent
collision of inaccuracy and the inevitable factors.
Area: Open area (Schools field)
Time: 12:30 p.m. - 1-10 p.m. (1-2 minutes each round for every 20 minutes
passed)
Experimenter: Waritsaree Aroonrassmeechot (experimenter), Sooyoung
Yoon (timekeeper), Lertphipak Pakchaporn (tracker & analyzer)

Day1: All three sets of the tests were successful with no errors occurred.
Day2: All three sets of the tests failed, the 1st and the 2nd set did not pass
due to the the clouds shadow. The third set, did not pass as well, due to
the fact that the sun was not as visible as it is suppose to be, therefore
weve evaluated it as an error due to its inaccuracy.
Day3: 2 out of 3 sets were successful. The 1st and the 2nd set seems to
have an effective result, with no additional errors found; however, the on
the last set of the experiment, it turns out that the condition of the weather
was not convenient enough for the experiment to be held, due to the fact
that the rain was showering. Which upon this result, we were not able to
hold other experiments due to the fact that other time would not be as
accurate as it is within these range of time.

Result:
The experiment turned out to be quite successful to which to which the
model is capable of measuring time, within the central destination, through
the use of the coordinated area.
The Sundial model for this experiment is a success as for the fact that there
were more of the inevitable errors rather than the technical issues.

Conclusion:
The Sundial, one of the most genius creation that human has ever made to
track the time, during the past era. It can indicate the time through the use
of shadow, casting on the Sundial from the sunlight.