How do digital clocks get out of sync with the right time?

Question

I can understand a mechanical system falling out of time, but my microwave clock is gradually *gaining* time, and I’m pretty sure it doesn’t have a mainspring.

In: 0

Answer 1

Digital clocks still have a timekeeping mechanism inside them, it’s just very small and modulated by crystals and microchips instead of by gears and springs. Where a mechanical clock uses an escapement mechanism, a digital clock counts the regular vibrations of an electrically-charged quartz crystal to tell time. Slight variations in the manufacturing process may result in vibrations that are slightly imprecise, making the clock slowly gain or lose time.