ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Lighthouse clock

A lighthouse clock is a special clock that helps lighthouses keep track of time. Imagine you are playing a game where you need to catch your friend when they run past a specific place. You would need to know what time they will run past that place so that you can be ready.

Similarly, lighthouse keepers need to know what time it is so that they can turn on their lighthouse at the right time. The lighthouse clock helps them do this.

The lighthouse clock is made up of many gears and other moving parts inside a big box. Imagine that the box is like a really big toy car with lots of different pieces inside that make it go.

These gears and parts inside the box are connected to a big weight hanging from a string. The weight is like a bowling ball or a big rock. It is really heavy and helps the clock keep track of time.

As the weight drops down, it turns the gears and makes the clock keep time. The gears inside the box move and turn other things in the clock. Imagine that you are playing with toys with little screws and wheels.

Every time the weight drops down, it makes a sound like a "tick-tock". This is the sound you hear from a lighthouse clock. The sound helps the lighthouse keeper know how much time has passed.

Lighthouse clocks are really important because they help lighthouse keepers know what time it is, so they can turn on the lighthouse at the right time. Without the lighthouse clock, the lighthouse keeper might turn on the lighthouse too early or too late, and that could be dangerous for boats on the water.