Question

What is a chronometer?
A) An instrument used to measure the degree of latitude and longitude of a place
B) A highly accurate timepiece which is used to keep Greenwich meantime
C) A scale which tells time corresponding to each longitude
D) A scale which tells the distance between any two places whose latitudes and longitudes are known

Answer 1

Hint: It is a clock for controlling or determining the longitude of a vessel at sea and it is an instrument used for measuring time of a fixed known location. The option which is the nearest in meaning is also used for the purpose of navigation.

Complete answer:
Now let us look into the given options:
Option A) An instrument used to measure the degree of latitude and longitude of a place – The name of the instrument is sextant whose purpose is to measure the angular distance between two visible things. Thus, this option is an incorrect answer as this option does not define the chronometer.

Option B) A highly accurate timepiece which is used to keep Greenwich meantime – chronometer is best defined in this option because chronometer is a time that is based on the relationship between zone time and Greenwich mean time. Thus, this option is the most appropriate answer.

Option C) A scale which tells time corresponding to each longitude – this option is considered to be an incorrect answer because this option does not define the chronometer.

Option D) A scale which tells the distance between any two places whose latitudes and longitudes are known – Latitudes and longitudes are always measured in degrees; therefore, this option does not define the chronometer and thus, this is an incorrect answer.

Hence the correct answer is option ‘B’.

Note: Chronometer is a type of timepiece or a clock or a wrist watch of great accuracy especially for determining longitude at sea. Chronometer is used for the scientific purpose and for the navigation purposes. In Greek ‘chron’ is known as time. Earlier chronometers were also known as the marine chronometer.