Why is it 60 minutes in a minute and 24 hours in a day? Interesting facts from history

Why is it 60 seconds per minute, and 24 hours in a day, and not 100 or 1000, as in ordinary units, for example, in meters or kilograms? In fact, it seems like elementary questions, but if you are asked them, you will find what to answer? If you are hesitant, then read our article to dispel all doubts.

Why is there 24 hours in a day?

To answer the question of why 60 seconds per minute, one should turn to the history of two greatest civilizations - Mesopotamia and Egypt. The fact is that the Egyptians used the duodecimal notation, and not the decimal, as we used to. Time was divided into intervals according to the duodecimal system. The mythology of Ancient Egypt says that day belonged to one kingdom of being, and night to another. Therefore, day and night were divided into 12 equal parts. Day was called the time from sunrise to sunset, at night - from sunset to sunrise. Initially, the duration of these peculiar “hours” depended on the duration of night and daytime, and only on the days of the spring and autumn equinox each of the 24 parts had an equal duration.

Why is there 60 seconds in a minute?

The inhabitants of Babylon went even further. Their system of calculation was based not on the number 12, but on 60. She survived the civilization of Mesopotamia and then came to the taste of Ancient Greece. Ancient scientists created a geographical coordinate system based on the number 60. The circle was divided into 360 degrees, then each degree was divided into 60 “first small parts” (partes minutae primae), each “first small”, in turn, was divided into another 60 “second small parts "(partes minutae secundae). And so it turns out that the word “minute” comes from the Latin word “first”, and “second” - from the word “second”. For many centuries, the hour was the smallest unit of time. Only with the advent of the clock did it become possible to measure out smaller parts of the time. Minutes and seconds were taken from geography, grabbing the number 60.

Interesting facts about the number 60

We figured out why in a minute 60 seconds. Facts suggest that over time, the use of the six-decimal system has only expanded. Let's consider this moment in more detail:

• A system based on the number 60 is more convenient than duodecimal.
• Dividing into 60 parts was beneficial for merchants who scored a large number of goods.
• Some researchers insist that in ancient times it would be more convenient to divide by 5 or 10.
• Despite the differences between scholars, the Babylonian system of calculation took root well in ancient times, and then gradually migrated to Europe.
• The peak of the development of the system based on the number 60 falls on the Middle Ages. It was used in all exact sciences: algebra, geometry, astronomy.
• In the era of the New Age, decimal fractions began to gain popularity.

Today, the number 60 is used in a very small number of areas: measuring time and coordinates. Dividing the hour by 60 minutes began much later, with the advent of more accurate chronometers.

Curious Facts About Number 12

1. The number 12 is very closely related to time and temporary space for many centuries. All calendars and clocks are based on this number: in a year 12 months, there are 12 signs of the zodiac, in an hour 5 x 12 minutes.
2. Part of the small intestine is the duodenum. It is 12 inches long.
3. In a circle of 360 degrees. And 360 is 12 times thirty.
4. An ancient unit of foot length is twelve inches.
5. There are twelve cranial nerves in the human body.
6. Number 12 has six divisors: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12. In addition, it can be divided into half, third, quarter, three quarters and two thirds.
7. The number twelve is very well seen in mythology and religion. For example, Hercules had 12 feats, Olympus had 12 gods, the Bible had 12 apostles, and James had 12 sons.
8. There are only twelve function buttons on the keyboard (from F1 to F12).
9. In total, twelve astronauts landed on the moon.
10. A person has twelve ribs.
11. During the trial, there is a jury composed of 12 people.
12. The flag of the European Union is decorated with twelve golden stars.

Interesting historical features about time and hours

We answered the question of why in a minute 60 seconds. There are a lot of time facts (interesting). Let us dwell on the most curious of them:

• The name of the company developing software for organizations 1C means "1 second." This means that programs take 1 second to complete any action.
• Previously, the word “moment” meant a time period of one and a half minutes. This measure of time was used in Old England.
• All clocks go clockwise, that is, from left to right. This is the reason for the fact that the shadow at the sundial goes in the same direction.
• Time zones were introduced only in the nineteenth century. After the advent of railway transport, they needed to be introduced for scheduling trains.
• China is located in four time zones. But by government decree, the whole country lives in the same time zone as Beijing.

It is impossible to know everything about the clock, and “why in 60 minutes is one of the questions that can be answered, it’s enough to go a little deeper into the story.