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Digital timekeeping devices are more precise because they use quartz crystals or atomic oscillations to measure time accurately.
Digital timekeeping devices, such as digital watches and clocks, use a quartz crystal oscillator to keep time. This is a small piece of quartz that vibrates or oscillates at a specific frequency when an electric current is applied. The frequency of these oscillations is extremely consistent, which allows the device to keep time with a high degree of accuracy.
The quartz crystal is cut and shaped in a way that it vibrates at exactly 32,768 times per second. This frequency is chosen because it is a power of 2 (2^15), which makes it easier for the digital circuitry to count the oscillations. The digital circuitry counts these oscillations and when it reaches 32,768, it knows that one second has passed. This process is repeated continuously, providing a very precise measure of time.
Some digital timekeeping devices, such as atomic clocks, use the oscillations of atoms to keep time. These devices are even more precise than those that use quartz crystals. Atomic clocks use the vibrations of atoms, usually caesium or rubidium, to measure time. These atoms vibrate at incredibly consistent frequencies, which allows the clock to keep time with an accuracy of a few billionths of a second per day.
In contrast, mechanical timekeeping devices, such as traditional watches and clocks, use a series of gears and springs to keep time. These components can be affected by physical factors such as temperature, humidity, and wear and tear, which can cause the device to lose or gain time. Therefore, while mechanical devices can be very accurate, they are generally not as precise as digital devices.
In summary, the precision of digital timekeeping devices comes from the consistent oscillations of quartz crystals or atoms, which provide a highly accurate measure of time.
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