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Clockwork facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Clockwork means the inner workings of mechanical machines clocks (where it is also called a "movement". Also other similar mechanisms with a complex series of gears.

A clockwork mechanism usually has a clockwork motor. This has a mainspring, a spiral of metal ribbon. Energy is stored in the mainspring by winding it up, turning a key attached to a ratchet which twists the mainspring tighter. Then the force of the mainspring turns the clockwork gears, until the stored energy is used up. The adjectives wind-up and spring-powered refer to mainspring-powered clockwork devices. These include clocks and watches, kitchen timers, music boxes, and wind-up toys.

Images for kids

  • Prim clockwork

    Clockwork of mechanical Prim wrist watch

  • Mainspring wind-up keys

    Keys of various sizes for winding up mainsprings on clocks

  • Maquinaria de un Ansonia C-1904

    Mechanism of a Wall Clock, Ansonia Co. 1904

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Clockwork Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.