Sundials on the Internet - Five sundial projects for you to make


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Six sundial projects for you to make

Here are six sundial projects which will demonstrate the principles of a sundial and ensure that you end up with a sundial which tells accurate sun time. The projects are:

	an equatorial sundial
	a horizontal sundial
	another horizontal sundial ( + link to the original French) copiously illustrated
	a diptych dial
	an equiangular dial
	a Capuchin sundial ( + link to the original Swedish) + many illustrations
You can find some other projects for sundials and other sun-related phenomena on the Event Inventor's page visitors have come to this page since 1 June 2001 - we hope you enjoy them too.

Project One - An Equatorial Sundial

This project is summarised from "Make a Sundial" project no.3, by kind permission of the British Sundial Society

For this project, you will need:

a piece of card slightly wider than the protractor and say 25cm (10 in.) long
a drinking straw or knitting needle
a protractor

Draw lines across the card dividing the length into sections of 1, 10, 14, and 1 cm. (The length of 14 is alright for latitudes of 50 deg. or more, but if you live at a lower latitude, you will need to make this length longer) We'll call these lines A, B,and C. Mark the centre point O of line A, and the centre point P of line C. Draw a line OP connecting the two centre points.
Place the centre of the protractor on O and draw round it. Make a pin hole through O, turn the card over, and place the centre of the protractor on the pin hole. Draw round the protractor again so you have two semicircles back to back
Mark 15 degree intervals and number the hours as shown, on both semi-circles.
Score and fold the card along the lines A, B, and C
Enlarge the pin hole at O and push the straw through. Make sure the straw is at 90 deg. to the card around O.
Move the bottom end of the straw along the line OP until the angle it makes with the horizontal is the same as the latitude of the place where you are (this is about 30 deg. for Perth and for New Orleans, 45 deg for Bordeaux and for Minneapolis, 51.5 deg. for London, and 55 deg for Edinburgh)
You may find it easier to calculate the correct angle, and mark off the correct length along the straw. The correct length is 10 x (cotangent of the latitude). In the examples above, the correct lengths would be 17.3 cm. for Perth or for New Orleans, 10 cm for Bordeaux and for Minneapolis, 8 cm for London, and 6.9 cm for Edinburgh
When you've found the correct location for the bottom end of the straw, bend up a tab as shown in the diagram, or put a pin through from the other side to hold the straw in the right place
The straw forms the gnomon. The shadow of the gnomon will fall on the hour lines on the top of the dial in summer, and on the underside in winter.
You can colour your dial and write a motto such as "AIM HIGHER THAN THE MARK" underneath.

You now have a working equatorial sundial. The dial plate, with the 15 degree angles marked on it, is parallel to the equator, and the straw forming the gnomon is parallel to the earth's axis. The sun appears to revolve round the earth's axis at 360 deg. every day, which is 15 deg. every hour (which is why you marked out your hour lines at 15 deg. intervals)

You can also see from your model how a horizontal sundial is constructed. Wait till the shadow is exactly on one of your hour lines, and mark a line where the shadow of the base of your straw falls on the horizontal piece of your card, and mark the hour alongside.

When you have marked out a number of lines in this way, you will see that the angles are not a regular 15 deg. on the horizontal surface. You will also see that the shadow line along the "equator" surface meets the shadow line along the horizontal surface, along the line of the fold B. The hour lines on the horizontal surface are, in fact, the projection, on the horizontal surface, of the 15 deg. lines on the equatorial surface. This forms the basis of the graphical method of determining the hour lines for horizontal sundials, which of course are different for each latitude.

"Make a Sundial" contains lots of other interesting sundial projects, so why not order a copy today, and support the British Sundial Society who wrote this page for you and helped to sponsor Sundials on the Internet.

Project 2 - A horizontal sundial

This project was devised and written by Tony Helyar, and is one of a number of interesting pages on his site at http://freepages.pavilion.net/users/aghelyar

To Construct a Horizontal Sundial

The first step is to mark out the hour angles. A base line with a centrally rising perpendicular gives the noon, 6am and 6pm lines as follows:-

Fig. 1

Various methods exist for generating the remaining hour angles, we will use the computational method. The formula for calculating the angles quoted in many works on the subject is:

log tan D = log tan t + log sin Ø

and was used in this form to save the need for long multiplication of fractions. However in these days of pocket calculators we can use the more straightforward:

tan D = (tan t)(sin Ø)

In both these formula D is the angle which the hour line makes with the noon line, t is the is the time measured from noon in degrees and minutes of arc [the earth completes the 360° round the sun in 24 hours so 1 hour = 15° and 1 minute = 15' of arc], and Ø is the latitude of the place where the dial is to be positioned. Each angle calculated for times before noon also gives the angle for the equivalent times after noon:-

Fig. 2

It's best to draw up a table:

time	t	tan t	sin Ø	tan D	D
9.30 (2.30)	37°30'	0.7673	0.7749	0.5945	30.73°

I have put in one set of figures assuming a latitude of 50°48' (Ø = 50.8). Of course this is an obvious spreadsheet application. Having plotted all the hour angles required, normally hours and half hours, the shadow casting component, known as a gnomon or style, can be fitted along the noon line as shown below. The angle or height of the style is equal to the latitude of the dial location.

Fig. 3

It is a good idea to draw the whole thing out on a large sheet of paper fixed to a board and make a style out of thin card. This will check the design before committing it to a more permanent medium. The sundial should be positioned where it will be in the sun for the maximum length of time with the dial plate perfectly level and with the noon line pointing directly north.

Project 3 - How to make a sundial by Andre E. Bouchard

Ce projet en francais

(Andre E. Bouchard is the chairman of Communications ABC inc., a communications research company, and is Secretary General of the Commission des Cadrans Solaires du Quebec)

One might imagine that we could measure time simply by setting up a vertical pole on level ground. After a few days, it would become clear that tis idea does not work. The shadow of a vertical object does not fall in the same direction nor extend to the same distance at the same time on successive days. This is because the Sun passes across the sky each day on a path which rises and falls with the changing seasons.

This difficulty is overcome by observing the shadow cast by a fixed object set up so that its straight edge, known as the style, is parallel to the Earth's polar axis. This is achieved by elevating it at the same angle from the northern horizon as the latitude of the intended location of the sundial.

Of course, our sundial will indicate Sun Time, which may differ from the time told by a watch. For one thing, the apparent circular motion of the Sun varies in speed with the time of year, so that a day may last for slightly more, or slightly less, than the annual average of 24 hours. At certain times of year, this causes Sundial Time and Clock Time to differ by as much as 16 minutes.

1. Choose your materials for the style and dial face on the basis of appearance, durability and ease of working.

2. Cut out the style as shown and cut a straight rod, slightly longer than the sloping upper edge. The style angle (at the point that is to be fixed at the centre of the dial) must equal the latitude of the place where it will stand, as shown on a map of your country. .

3. Draw a semi-circle on the lower half of a piece of stiff paper, marking out angles of 15 degrees with a protractor. Fold back the upper half of the paper.

4. Attach the style to the dial face.

5. Fasten the rod along the sloping edge of the style..

6. Fit the paper semi-circle so that it rests against the end of the style plate opposite to the measured angle and fits closely around the sloping rod.
Attach one end of a length of cord around the rod and, but stretching it in line with each 15 degree line, mark out point to left and right across the dial face. Temporary extensions to left and right of the dial face will be needed, where points can be added in line with the wider angles. Remove the paper protractor and with a straight ruler, draw in the hour lines of the sundial, joining the marked points to the point of emergence of the sloping style..

7. Use a magnetic compass to orientate the sundial, so that the base of the style is in line with the North/South axis. Remember that the compass indicates magnetic north, and all for the magnetic declination.

Project 4 - The diptych dial

DIRECTIONS FOR DIPTYCH DIAL ASSEMBLY

The folding sundial you are about to make is called a diptych dial. Such dials have been made for four or five centuries and were traditionally made of ivory or boxwood. The diptych dial provided here was designed by Dr. Allan Mills, Astronomy Group, Leicester University, UK . The scanned images and text have been prepared by Dr. Randall Brooks, National Museum of Science and Technology, Ottawa, Canada. The template was later updated and redrawn by Anders Bergström who also wrote the Capuchin dial project below

Step 1: Print the template dial (provided as JPEG graphics to download) on a piece of A4 or letter sized paper. The downloaded files may be resized if desireable. Paste the paper dial onto a piece of bristol board or heavy card making sure that glue is spread evenly over the entire surface. To download the full size template (55kb) click here

Step 2: Trim along the outside lines on the template diagram.

Step 3: To provide accurate time, the sundial must be orientated properly. The first step is to determine the latitude of the site using an atlas. On the right and left of the lower half of the dial (the base), you will see two scales marked 35°-55°. Once you have determined the required latitude, mark the latitude angle off on both scales drawing lines through each of the X symbols at the top. Cut the flaps off along these lines.

At the top you may want to write the location and latitude and/or perhaps your name, i.e. "Sam Smith, Fecit" (Fecit is Latin for "maker" and often appears on early instruments).

NB: If your site is outside the 35-55° latitude range, you can move the position of the "X" until you get the required tilt to the dial's base.

Step 4: Note the dashed lines; two of these are marked "score on back, fold forward" and two marked "score on front, fold down". Folds must be made along these lines and if you score these lines lightly with a sharp craft knife, the folds will be sharper and the sundial will stand better and look more finished. However, in making these scores, do not cut all the way through the card backing! After scoring, make the necessary folds in the direction indicated.

Step 5: Along the line with "Noon" above and "a.m. p.m." below, make another score line on the back and fold the upper section forward so that the two panels make a right angle.

Step 6: To finish the dial attach a string (preferably elastic string) through holes at the top and bottom at the points where all the hour lines converge. The easiest way to accomplish this is to use a thick needle and thread the string through tying knots on each end so that the string is taught when the dial is folded and ready for use. This string is the gnomon (pronounced no-mon) and casts the shadow to indicate the time.

Step 7: You may wish to embellish the back of your dial with an old-style graphic from a book on sundials, a drawing of your pet or whatever appeals to you. This is where you can individualize your diptych dial!

Positioning your sundial:

The sundial must be orientated with the gnomon pointing north/south and, of course, the dial must be located where a shadow will be cast by the gnomon most of the day (though one can move the dial from window to window as the day progresses if necessary).

Method 1: (The Purist's Method) To determine the orientation without reference to other mechanical devices, North can be found by observing Polaris, the North Star, at night. In orientating the sundial, the gnomon is actually being pointed to the North Celestial Pole which is within 1° of the North Star. Thus, if you can find Polaris at the end of the Little Dipper, line up your dial by pointing the gnomon towards Polaris. You might want to record the orientation for your dial by making light pencil marks on a window sill for future reference. Those in southern latitudes will not be able to use this method as there is no bright star near the South Celestial Pole.

Method 2: (The Practical Method) A magnetic compass may be used to determine the north/south line, but, because of the difference between magnetic north and true north, the dial reading could be out by an hour or more depending on the local difference between magnetic and true north (or south if in southern latitudes).

Method 3: (The Lazy Person's Method) To a first approximation, the orientation can be found by finding the orientation at any time from a clock or watch and orientating the dial so the shadow shows the correct time. However, if left in this position, there could be an error of up to 30 minutes over the year as a result of what is known as the "equation of time". Because of the Earth's orbital motion around the Sun, the solar day (apx. 24 hours) is not exactly the same length from day to day varying by up to ±16 minutes a day. However, if the orientation is carried out on April 15, June 10, Sept. 1 or Dec. 20, this error will be negligible and any orientation made between April 15 and 1 Sept. will be in error by, at most, a few minutes (but don't forget the effect of daylight savings time).

Happy dialling!

Project 5 - The equiangular dial

For a full size version of this image, click on the image

This dial is of a rather unusual and not very well-known type. It was invented by Samuel Foster in the seventeenth century and has been forgotten and re-discovered more than once since then. The version described below is based on a description by F.W. Sawyer of the North American Sundial Society.

Unlike a common vertical or horizontal dial with a fixed gnomon, this one has its hour lines equafly spaced on the circumference of a circle, and no calculations involving latitude are required. The positioning of the dial does not depend on a prior knowledge of the North- South meridian and it can be used as a sun compass.

DIRECTIONS FOR EQUIANGULAR DIAL ASSEMBLY

Step 1. Take the page of patterns and paste it to a piece of card at least 1.3 mm thick. Suitable material can be obtained from a good stationer or artists' supplier.

Step 2. Using a sharp knife or scalpel, cut out the two rectangular pieces with the hour scales: also the gnomon, taking particular care with the shadow-casting edges, a and b. The angle C is 51.50, the latitude of London. If the dial is to be used at a different latitude, the angle should be altered accordingly, but sides a and b must always be at right angles to each other.. (Do you need help in finding your latitude?

Step 3. Join the two rectangular pieces, using pasted strips of card applied along the dotted lines. A gap should be left, just sufficient to admit the gnomon.

Step 4. The slotted squares help to maintain the gnomon vertical and the hour-plate at right angles to it.

HOW TO USE THE EQUIANGULAR DIAL

Slide the hour-plate to a position where the V of the gnomon coincides with the appropriate date on the month scale. With the base on a horizontal surface, rotate the assembly until the indicated times are the same for each shadow. The upper shadow is to be read on the clockwise scale, the lower on the anti-clockwise one. The indicated time is then the correct Solar Time, and the gnomon is in the North-South plane. The dial functions best at times one or two hours before or after midday. Around noon precise settings are rather difficult.

For a full size print of this image, click on the image.

Project 6. The Capuchin Sundial

This project was produced by Anders Bergström and originally published in Swedish on his website. He very kindly provided this English translation.

If you want to print out this project by itself, it will shortly be available on a separate page

This is a description of the design of a portable sundial. It is also known as a Capuchin sundial, named after the Capuchin monks, who belonged to a branch of the Roman Catholic Order of Franciscans. They wore a hood, that resembled the face of the sundial.

The simplest way to build the sundial is to use a piece of cardboard. Draw construction lines according to the description below. It is also possible to use a more durable material, such as a sheet of brass or similar.

1. Draw a horizontal line AB, approximately as long as the intended width of the sundial.
2. Draw a line CD perpendicular to the horizontal line, crossing it at the middle.
3. Draw a semicircle downwards with one point of the protractor in M, where the lines are crossing.

4. Divide the semicircle in 12 parts. Every part will be 15º.

5. Draw vertical lines parallel to the vertical line CE, between the semicircle and the diameter. These lines will be the hour lines of the sundial.

6. Draw a line AE from A, with an angle BAE equal to the latitude of the place you want to use the sundial.
The angle on my sundial is 60º, approximately the latitude for Stockholm.

7. At the point E, draw a line FG perpendicular to the line AE. This will be the date line of the sundial. Later you will cut through this line to fix a plumb line in the slot. The point E corresponds to the spring and autumn equinoxes.

8. Draw a line AF 23.5º upwards from AE and a line AG 23.5º downwards from AE. The point F corresponds to the summer solstice and the point G corresponds to the winter solstice.
9. Mark the declination of the sun, for the first day of every month in the first half year, above the line FG. In a similar way, mark the declination of the sun, for the second half year, below the line FG.
The table below lists the declination of the sun for the first day of each month. All angels are set from the line AE, corresponding to the equinoxes. Positive angles are marked clockwise from AE and negative angles are marked anti-clockwise from AE.

Table: Sun's Declination at the First Day of Every Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun

Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul

-23º -22º -17.5º -14.5º -7.5º -3º +4.5º +8º +15º +18º +22º +23º

10. What remains is to tidy up the dial. Draw a scale for the months around the line FG
11. Remove unnecesary construction lines around the scale and write the name of the months on the scale. Make a cut along the line FG.

12. Put one point of the protractor at G and draw an arc AH. This is the timeline for the summer solstice.
13. Put one point of the protractor at F and draw a second arc AK, forming the timeline for the winter solstice.
14. Extend the construction lines in step 5 between the two arcs.
If you turn the sundial upside down, the two arcs looks like the hood of the Capuchin monks. This is why it is called a Capuchin sundial.

15. The final touch-up is to remove all construction lines. You can also write the hours on the scale and draw an arc through A with the equinox point E as center.

16. What remains is to cut out the sundial and cut a slot in one corner, for the sun to shine through. You also have to draw a straight line, parallel to the old AB, from the slot to the other side of the sundial. Make a cut below the slot so you will get a flap to fold up. 17. Get a cotton thread with a small weight and a small pearl which can slide up and down the thread. Insert the thread in the slot cut out in step 11, fix a small button on the back side to make it possible to slide the thread up and down along the slot.

Calibrating the Sundial

Calibrate the sundial by moving the thread to current date. Then align the thread with the tip of the "hood" and move the pearl to the tip ("Twelve noon").

Using the Sundial

Hold your sundial vertically and let the sun shine through the slot. Incline the sundial until the sun beam is parallel to the line across the upper part. The thread will now indicate the plumb line, if you take care that it does not touch the dial. The pearl will indicate the time of the day. This example shows the time as a quarter past eight in the morning or a quarter to four in the afternoon. Unfortunately, you have to keep track of, if it is a.m. or p.m. yourself.
The sundial shows local (true) solar time. In Sweden we use a standard time that is the mean solar time at the longitude 15º east of Greenwich. It corresponds to the longitude of the city of Orebro in the middle of Sweden. Stockholm is situated a further 3º to the east, which corresponds to 12 minutes earlier than the standard time. If the time had been observed in Stockholm, it would rather correspond to eight sharp Swedish time in this example. If it had not been during the daylight saving period of course, but sundials are not designed for such modern inventions. The same observation in Gothenburg would correspond to close to half past eight Swedish time, because Gothenburg is 3º west of longitude 15º. The difference in solar time between Stockholm and Gothenburg is 24 minutes!
To make things further complicated, the earth does not rotate at the same speed around the year. The earth travels in an elliptical orbit around the sun and speeds up or slows down depending on the distance to the sun. The sundial only shows "correct" time, that is Clock Time only four times a year, in the middle of April, the middle of June, the beginning of September and around Christmas. Other periods during the year the fault can be more than 15 minutes, forwards or backwards. The phenomena is called "Equation of Time" and is usually found in tables in astronomical almanacs.

This is my sundial!

Sun
Another portable sundial, or?

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Six sundial projects for you to make