Why Are There 60 Minutes In An Hour Instead Of 100?

Do clocks really follow a system inherited from ancient Sumeria?

[XxKcookiez]

I'm normally one to understand something the first time it's explained, but I still don't get why there's 60 minutes in an hour XD

[healthdios]

he didn't answer any of those questions. ...I still didn't understand why we use that 60 system instead of a 100 system when measuring time

[svetievboris]

Some constructive criticism: you need examples in your video. When you talk about how complicated it would be if we would use base 10 to measure all of time I kept expecting for number examples to show up on the empty green part of the screen next to you.

Also with every other point that you make. You need to make the video a visual as well as audible experience.

Hope you take this the right way and that it helps.

[oogiemaster]

Very unsatisfying. I felt a sense of emptiness after watching. We all know about the 12 and the 60, why not expand on base 10 of its pros and cons?

[HaoQuachy]

doesn't really answer the question?

[udith]

For those who didn't understand: 60 has more factors than 100 or 10 hence it would reduce the possibility of getting any Rediculous answers like 0.333 since in those days decimals weren't invented yet

[onboardmirror]

To me AM has always meant "At Morning" and PM has always meant "Penis Moon"

[Kiwi]

You could have explained it a bit more. Maybe show a practical example why it would be complicated to use 10 as a base in time. This was a bit dull.

[JWPemperor]

3:30 OK a day 24 hours (12 + 12) x 60 x 60 = 86.400 seconds (x100)
New time system:
A day 10 hours (5 + 5) x 100 x 100 = 100.000 seconds
(13.600 seconds would be included, so to use a decimal system seconds wil take 0, 864 current seconds).

[eluive]

3:39 into the video and I'm still waiting for an explanation...

[raysills]

Well, there is a system of decimal time: The "day" is divided into 1000 "chrons". So, most people would sleep for 333 chrons (1/3 of a day... 8 hours), and perhaps work at a job for 333 chrons. Then, they'd have 334 chrons for other activities. And the chron could be sliced down into decicrhons, millichrons, micro chrons... however small an interval you might need to measure or specify. One chron is 86.4 seconds long, since there are 86, 400 seconds in a day. Not counting those times when a leap second is added to make our clocks stay in sync with the rotation of the Earth.

[stllbreathnbut_y]

This is great satire of a thoughtful and informative video

[Lerkero]

I don't think the video accurately describes why civilizations preferred 60 over 100. Distance measurements weren't standardized until the SI unit of meters was established and that uses base 10. So why wouldn't changing the calender or the day into a base 10 system not work out well?

It seems like the answer is that humans just got used to it.

[firestorm]

Well in Denmark we don't use am or pm
2 pm = 14 in denmark :)

[Synnbiot]

Black shirt and black pants makes you look like you're wearing a classy onesie! (and that is not a bad thing)

[kugelblitzed]

Is this how this channel answers questions?

[BrainStuffShow]

Do clocks really follow an ancient Sumerian system? Ben explains Why There Are 60 Minutes In An Hour Instead Of 100.

[stanislaskowalski]

There may be a geometrical explanation. In order to measure the time, you have to observe the sky. The sky's basically a circle, which can easilly be divided by 6 or 12 or 60.

[lumri]

Probably the Romans favored duodecimal (base 12) system, but they also would like to incorporate the advance sexagesimal (base 60) of the Babylonians. Thus, they used 24 hours a day, 60 minutes an hour, and 60 seconds a minute. What do they have in common? They are all divisible by 12.

In using these mixed unit systems they still use the decimal system, but this time as sub base in order to avoid forming additional single digit numerals greater than 9.

[williampennjr.]

the decimal system wouldn't work for time unless you were to redefine the second.

Divide the day into 10 parts to make a metric hour = 2.4 regular hours.
Divide that into 10 metric minutes = 14.4 regular minutes.
Divide a metric minute into 10 metric seconds = 86.4 regular seconds.
so you would have to add more units of measure.