But the clock also needs energy to start and keep the gears turning, and a rotation speed regulator so the clock actually keeps time. The image shows one way, a weight turning a special gear connected to all other gears, and if allowed, the … The three gears of a clock. How a Pendulum Works: A pendulum is made up of a string or solid rod with a weight attached to the end. Here are the HowStuffWorks articles that explain how they all work: ­Gears are used in tons of mechanical devices. Gravity is the force that keeps the pendulum moving. Initially they all had pendulums and gears, but now they come in many different forms, from quartz watches to atomic clocks! As shown above, roughly, a clock usually has three gears in its gear train, each moving one of the three hands indicating seconds, minutes, and hours. Pendulums are designed in such a way that once they are moved, they will continue to swing for a long period of time. Clocks are one of the very first complex machines created by humans. They do several important jobs, but most important, they provide a gear reduction in motorized equipment. Gears are found in everything from cars to clocks. Energy to start and keep the gears turning is provided in many ways in today’s clocks and watches. Similarly, in a car, gears transmit power from the crankshaft (the rotating axle that takes power from the engine) to the driveshaft running … Matthew’s answer is correct for how the guts of a clock work. There are five basic parts: Weight or spring - This provides the energy to turn the hands of the clock. Gear Study: From Minutes to Seconds Gear diagram of a wooden clock. In a bicycle, for example, it's gears (with the help of a chain) that take power from the pedals to the back wheel. This is key because, often, a small motor spinning very fast …