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The oldest clocks had no hands — they used shadows from the sun.

The oldest clocks had no hands — they used shadows from the sun.

Long ago people used a sundial. A stick made a shadow that moved as the sun crossed the sky, showing the time of day.

🕐 All Clock Basics facts →

More facts about Clock Basics

A clock has a short hand for hours and a long hand for minutes. A clock has a short hand for hours and a long hand for minutes. There are 60 minutes in one hour. There are 60 minutes in one hour. A clock face has the numbers 1 to 12 in a circle. A clock face has the numbers 1 to 12 in a circle. When the long hand points straight up to 12, it is o'clock. When the long hand points straight up to 12, it is o'clock. Clock hands turn in a special direction called clockwise. Clock hands turn in a special direction called clockwise.