Stupidity Test

[_V_]

Which is the more accurate of these two clocks?

One of which is broken and doesn't run at all.
The other loses one second every 24 hours.

Answers on postcards please.

[Andyw]

Its all relative...........

[n5gooner]

the one that is broken accurately tells the time twice a day, the one that loses 1 second each 24 hours is never accurate.

[_V_]

Almost right.

[Andyw]

not if it's electronic ! no power !

[CaribbeanPirate]

Badly specified question.

On average error is the same i.e. 12 hours.

On the other hand, the question as to which one is right more often has a much simpler answer.

[Flubster]

Not necessarily true. A stopped analog clock is right twice a day, but since you don't know when it's right, it's not a lot of use. A stopped 24-hour clock is right once a day, same caveat. A stopped calendar clock might only be right one or two times in a month. A 'stopped' digital clock might display no time whatever.

[DaveB]

the one that is broken accurately tells the time twice a day, the one that loses 1 second each 24 hours is never accurate.

The broken one is accurate twice per day the one losing time is accurate once every 118 years, allowing for rounding.

This is assuming its a conventional clock showing the hours 1-12.

If it's marked for 24hr use then it's once per day for the broken one and once every 316 years for the slow one.

[Jabberwocky]

Almost right.

every 12X3600 days.

[bogeyman]

the one that is broken accuratley tells the time twice a day, the one that loses 1 second each 24 hours is never accurate.

Both clocks have a cycle of accuracy as the difference between the actual time and the time shown diverge and converge again.

The stopped clock has a 12 hour cycle of accuracy (assuming no difference beween 12am and 12pm for this purpose).

The clock that loses time has a much longer cycle of accuracy, but will be exactly accurate every 43200 days.

Which clock is the 'more accurate' depends on how long you observe it for.