Atomic Clock

13.06.2024

Atomic Clock

Why in the news?   

         Researchers have built a portable optical atomic clock that can be used onboard ships.

About Atomic Clock:

• It is a device that measures time using the vibrations of atoms.
• Specifically, it uses the oscillations of the electrons in atoms to keep time.
• It is the most accurate time-keeping device available, with a margin of error of just a few billionths of a second per day.
• They are far more precise than conventional clocks because atomic oscillations have a much higher frequency and are much more stable.
• They are used in many applications that require very precise timing, such as GPS systems, telecommunications networks and scientific research.

How does an atomic clock work?

○It works by using a type of atom called a "cesium atom".

○Cesium atoms are very stable and have a very specific frequency at which their electrons vibrate.

○This frequency is used as the basis for the atomic clock's timekeeping.

○To measure time using cesium atoms, an atomic clock uses a device called a "microwave cavity".

○The microwave cavity is a chamber that is filled with cesium vapor.

○A microwave signal is then sent into the cavity, which causes the cesium atoms to vibrate.

○As the cesium atoms vibrate, they emit radiation at a very specific frequency.

○This frequency is then detected by a detector, which compares it to a standard frequency.

○The difference between the two frequencies is used to adjust the clock's timekeeping.

• Types of atomic clocks: There are two types of atomic clocks: cesium atomic clocks and hydrogen maser atomic clocks.

○Cesium atomic clocks are the most common and are used to define the international standard for time, called Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

○Hydrogen maser atomic clocks are even more accurate than cesium atomic clocks and are used in scientific research.

                                                                        Source: The Hindu

Ques :- Consider the following statements regarding Atomic Clock:

Statement-I

 It is a device that measures time using the vibrations of atoms.

Statement-II

 It is the most accurate time-keeping device available and used in many applications that require very precise timing.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

A.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.

B.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I.

C.Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect.

D.Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct.

Answer A