巴黎的地下時鐘：英語精讀講義

This is Paris on the 21st of January,

這是1月21日的巴黎，

1910,

1910年，

when a flash flood brought chaos to the city. 片語搭配

當時一場山洪給這座城市帶來了混亂。

Metros were flooded and buildings were destroyed.

地鐵被淹，建築物被毀。

But more curiously,

但更奇怪的是，

almost all the clocks around the city

城市裡幾乎所有的鐘錶

stopped at exactly 10:50,

都準確地停在了10:50，

as if time itself had stopped amidst the chaos. 文法

彷彿時間本身在混亂中停止了。

These clocks were part of a special network of underground pipes

這些鐘錶是一個特殊的地下管線網絡的一部分，

that used bursts of air to synchronize time around the city.

該網絡利用氣流來同步全城的時間。

This genius system was created in 1880

這個天才的系統創建於1880年，

by Austrian engineer Viktor Popp.

由奧地利工程師Viktor Popp發明。

And just 5 years later,

僅僅5年後，

thousands of these clocks were placed all over the city

成千上萬個這樣的鐘錶被安放在城市各處，

in hotels,

在酒店裡，

train stations,

火車站，

houses,

房屋，

schools,

學校，

and public streets.

和公共街道上。

We modeled this incredible system and the special machine at the heart of it 慣用語

我們對這個令人難以置信的系統及其核心的特殊機器進行了建模，

to show you how a series of underground pipes and mechanical clocks

向您展示一系列地下管線和機械鐘錶

kept an entire city in sync. 片語搭配

是如何讓整個城市保持同步的。

Before the invention of accurate electrical clocks,

在精確的電子鐘發明之前，

time was hard to keep.

時間很難保持準確。

Mechanical clocks would slowly drift out of sync, 片語搭配

機械鐘會慢慢失去同步，

leaving everyone on slightly different times.

讓每個人的時間都略有不同。

Business meetings and train schedules were impossible,

商務會議和火車時刻表都無法實行，

since no one would arrive at the right time.

因為沒人會在正確的時間到達。

In fact,

事實上，

the idea of there being an exact time wasn't really a thing yet. 講解

存在精確時間的概念當時還未真正成型。

Tower bells around the city

城市周圍的塔鐘

would ring out to let people know which hour it was. 片語動詞

會敲響來讓人們知道現在是幾點。

But as cities became more civilized,

但隨著城市變得更加文明，

knowing the time to the nearest hour 片語搭配

僅僅知道精確到小時的時間

was no longer good enough.

已經不夠了。

There needed to be a way to make sure everyone was on the same time, 文法

需要有一種方法來確保每個人的時間都是一致的，

down to the nearest minute.

精確到分鐘。

The idea was to have a master clock in the center of Paris

當時的想法是在巴黎市中心設一個母鐘，

that would send out a pulse each minute

它每分鐘發出一個脈衝，

to synchronize every clock around the city.

來同步全城的每一個鐘。

Sending the signals electronically was far too expensive, 文法

用電子方式發送訊號太昂貴了，

so Popp decided that sending bursts of air

所以Popp決定發送氣流

would be cheaper and more reliable.

會更便宜且更可靠。

The clocks wouldn't have to be powered. 文法

鐘錶不需要插電。

The bursts of air would simply move all the clocks

氣流只需簡單地推動所有鐘錶

in the system at the same time.

在系統中同時運轉。

This idea had been tested out in Vienna 片語動詞

這個想法曾在維也納進行過測試，

a few years before,

就在幾年前，

and it clearly demonstrated that having everyone on the same time

它清楚地表明，讓所有人的時間保持一致

was the way of the future. 慣用語

是未來的發展方向。

So the government of Paris gave Popp and his team

因此，巴黎政府給了Popp和他的團隊

a 50-year contract to provide time to Paris.

一份為期50年的合約，為巴黎提供時間。

The pneumatic clock company set up shop 慣用語

氣動鐘錶公司成立了，

in the center of Paris

就在巴黎市中心，

and began working on the master clock.

並開始研製母鐘。

This was an extremely precise clock

這是一個極其精確的鐘，

that could run 24/7 without going out of sync. 片語搭配

可以24/7全天候運行而不會失去同步。

Before we look at how this incredible machine worked, 表達脈絡

在我們了解這台不可思議的機器如何工作之前，

we need to understand the general principles of mechanical clocks.

我們需要了解機械鐘的一般原理。

In order to run without electricity,

為了在沒有電的情況下運行，

a spring or weight was typically used to provide energy.

通常使用發條或重物來提供能量。

By raising a weight, 文法

透過提起重物，

energy is stored in the form of potential energy. 片語搭配

能量以位能的形式儲存起來。

When it is released,

當它被釋放時，

gravity pulls it down and the wheel spins.

重力將其向下拉，齒輪隨之旋轉。

Of course,

當然，

a clock that ran out after a couple seconds 片語動詞

一個幾秒鐘就走完的鐘錶

would be useless.

將是毫無用處的。

So, an escapement mechanism is added to slow down the weight 用詞

所以，加入了一個擒縱機構來減緩重物下降的速度，

and create a continuous pulse.

並產生持續的脈衝。

As the gear turns,

當齒輪轉動時，

the escapement rocks back and forth like a pendulum, 片語搭配

擒縱機構像鐘擺一樣來回擺動，

moving the gear at constant intervals

以恆定的間隔移動齒輪，

and slowing down its release of energy.

並減緩其能量的釋放。

By changing the length of the pendulum,

透過改變鐘擺的長度，

the clock can be tuned to run faster or slower.

可以將鐘錶調快或調慢。

Adding a train of high-ratio gears slows down the system even more, 用詞

增加一組高傳動比的齒輪可以使系統慢下來更多，

meaning the weight can power the clock

這意味著重物可以為鐘錶提供動力

for an entire week without having to be reset.

長達一整週而無需重新設置。

For the Paris master clock,

至於巴黎的母鐘，

it was split into two separate sides.

它被分為兩個獨立的部分。

On the left was a standard pendulum clock 文法

左邊是一個標準的擺鐘，

that drove the hour, minute, and second hands.

驅動著時針、分針和秒針。

The clock on the right was basically a timer

右邊的鐘基本上是一個計時器，

that would control when to release the bursts of compressed air

控制何時將壓縮空氣脈衝

into the network of clocks.

釋放進鐘錶網絡。

But what kept the master clock in time? 片語搭配

但是，是什麼讓母鐘保持準確的時間呢？

In the Paris Observatory, 文化背景

在巴黎天文台，

there was another super accurate clock that was updated daily

有另一個極其準確的鐘，它每天都會更新，

using observations of stars and planets.

利用對恆星和行星的觀測。

A timekeeper would update the master clock if necessary,

計時員會在必要時更新母鐘，

using the observatory clock as a reference.

使用天文台的鐘作為參考。

In order to see the observatory clock,

為了看到天文台的鐘，

which was in a different part of Paris,

這個鐘位於巴黎的另一個區域，

the timekeeper used AnyDesk,

計時員使用了AnyDesk，

which gave him remote access to the clock's time.

讓他能夠遠端存取這台鐘的時間。

Just kidding. 語氣意圖

開玩笑的。

This entire system wouldn't be necessary 文法

如果1880年有AnyDesk的話，

if AnyDesk was around in 1880.

整個系統就沒有必要存在了。

AnyDesk, today's sponsor,

AnyDesk，今天的贊助商，

is a remote access service that allows you to control your device

是一項遠端存取服務，可讓您控制您的裝置，

from anywhere in the world.

無論您在世界何處。

All of the animations in this video

本影片中的所有動畫

were made on a MacBook and rendered on a PC.

都是在MacBook上製作並在PC上渲染的。

But when I'm traveling,

但當我在旅行時，

I still need to access my PC.

我仍然需要存取我的PC。

With AnyDesk,

有了AnyDesk，

I can send the animation files directly to my PC

我可以將動畫檔案直接發送到我的PC上，

and hit render as if I were sitting right in front of it. 文法

然後點擊渲染，就像我坐在它面前一樣。

With AnyDesk,

有了AnyDesk，

you can directly access and copy files to your device

您可以直接存取並將檔案複製到您的裝置，

without having to upload them to the cloud. 文法

而無需將它們上傳到雲端。

They have their own special codec that transfers the video of your computer

他們有自己特殊的編解碼器，可以傳輸您電腦的畫面，

at an extremely low bit rate

以極低的位元率進行，

without a noticeable drop in quality. 片語搭配

而不會出現明顯的品質下降。

The speed is lightning fast, 慣用語

速度快如閃電，

and it even works well with poor internet connections.

即便在網路連線不佳的情況下也能良好運行。

AnyDesk works on all platforms,

AnyDesk適用於所有平台，

and best of all, 表達脈絡

最棒的是，

it's free to use for personal use.

它供個人使用是免費的。

And they also have tailor-made plans for businesses. 片語搭配

並且他們還有為企業量身定制的方案。

To get AnyDesk for free and support the channel,

要免費獲取AnyDesk並支持本頻道，

visit anydesk.com/primalspace.

請造訪anydesk.com/primalspace。

In order to synchronize every clock around Paris,

為了同步巴黎的每一座鐘，

the master clock had to be extremely precise.

母鐘必須極其精確。

Both sides of the clock worked together to send out bursts of air

鐘的兩側協同工作，發出氣流，

to thousands of clocks connected to the system.

送往連接到該系統的數千個鐘錶。

At the start of each minute,

在每一分鐘開始時，

the left-hand clock would start counting down, 片語動詞

左側的鐘將開始倒數，

while the right-hand clock would be locked in place by a lever. 講解

而右側的鐘將被一根槓桿鎖定在原位。

Once the left clock reached the 60th second,

一旦左側的鐘到達第60秒，

a tooth at the top gear activated the lever,

頂部齒輪上的一個齒就會激活槓桿，

which released the right clock and allowed its gears to start spinning. 文法

從而釋放右側的鐘，讓它的齒輪開始旋轉。

Instead of an escapement to limit the speed,

右側的鐘沒有使用擒縱機構來限制速度，

the right clock had a simple fan fly,

只有一個簡單的減速風輪，

which used its own drag to slow the gears down. 用詞

它利用自身的阻力使齒輪慢下來。

This would allow the clock to run for about 20 seconds

這將允許鐘錶運行約20秒鐘，

until the lever locked back in place.

直到槓桿鎖回原位。

When the gears turned,

當齒輪轉動時，

a rod attached to one of the main gears was activated. 文法

連接在其中一個主齒輪上的一根桿被激活。

This opened a valve that would allow compressed air

這會打開一個閥門，讓壓縮空氣

to flow into the distribution pipe.

流入分配管線。

The valve would remain open for the first 20 seconds of each minute 文法

閥門在每分鐘的前20秒內保持開啟，

and closed for the remaining 40 seconds.

在剩餘的40秒內關閉。

This created a 20-second period every minute

這就在每分鐘內創造了一個20秒的時間段，

where air could flow to all the clocks in the network.

空氣可以流向網絡中的所有鐘錶。

One of the best things about this entire system

這個完整系統最棒的特點之一，

was its ability to reset itself

就是它能夠自我重置，

once the weights had fallen.

一旦重物落下之後。

A thin pipe leading off from the distribution pipe

一根從分配管線引出的細管，

fed the compressed air back into two pistons 片語動詞

將壓縮空氣送回兩個活塞中，

at the side of the clock.

活塞位於鐘的側面。

This would raise two levers attached to both clock systems,

這會抬起連接在兩個鐘錶系統上的兩根槓桿，

lifting up the weights and resetting both clocks

將重物升起並重置兩座鐘，

without interrupting the cycle.

而不會中斷循環。

But where did the air go

但是離開母鐘後，

after leaving the master clock?

空氣去了哪裡？

From there,

從那裡開始，

the air would split into 10 different pipes

空氣會分流進10根不同的管線，

that were each assigned to different districts around Paris.

它們分別被分配到巴黎周圍不同的區。

These would carry the air into iron pipes

這些管線會將空氣輸送到鐵管中，

that ran for hundreds of kilometers 用詞

鐵管延伸數百公里，

through the sewage and metro tunnels of Paris.

穿過巴黎的下水道和地鐵隧道。

As the compressed air entered the pipes,

當壓縮空氣進入管線時，

it would quickly start sending a pressure wave

它會迅速開始透過整個系統

through the entire system,

發送壓力波，

taking up to a minute to reach some of the furthest clocks. 文法

最多需要一分鐘才能到達一些最遠的鐘錶。

But what actually happened when the air reached the clock?

但當空氣到達鐘錶時，究竟發生了什麼？

The clocks themselves were very simple.

鐘錶本身非常簡單。

The minute hand was connected to a gear

分針連接到一個齒輪上，

that had exactly 60 teeth.

該齒輪剛好有60個齒。

As the air reached the clock,

當空氣到達鐘錶時，

it entered into a bellows, 用詞

它進入一個風箱，

which would inflate and push a rod upwards.

隨著風箱膨脹，會將一根推桿向上推。

This lifted the main lever,

這抬起了主槓桿，

which pushed the gear along with an articulated tooth.

並隨同一個鉸接齒推動齒輪。

On the other side,

在另一側，

another tooth would stop the gear from moving backwards. 文法

另一個齒會阻止齒輪向後移動。

Once the bellows fell back down,

一旦風箱落回原處，

the tooth would pivot and a small weight would keep it engaged with the gear. 片語搭配

該齒便會旋轉，而一個小重物會使其與齒輪保持嚙合。

This clever mechanism meant that a full inflation of the bellows

這個巧妙的機制意味著風箱的完全膨脹

would always push the gear forward by exactly 1 minute.

總是會將齒輪向前推動剛好1分鐘。

The hour hand was connected to the minute gear

時針連接在分針齒輪上，

using a ratio of 1 to 12, 片語搭配

使用1比12的傳動比，

meaning that the minute hand would complete 12 rotations

意味著分針將完成12次旋轉，

in the time it took the hour hand to complete 1. 文法

在時針完成1次旋轉的時間內。

The great thing about this system

這個系統最棒的地方在於，

was that it wasn't just for public street clocks or train stations.

它不僅僅用於公共街道的鐘錶或火車站。

Anyone could have these clocks installed in their house 文法

任何人都可以將這些鐘安裝在自己家中，

for a subscription fee of just 30 cents per day in today's money. 用詞

每天只需訂閱費30美分（按今天的幣值換算）。

Despite being damaged in the great flood of 1910, 文法

儘管在1910年的大洪水中受損，

this incredible system continued to work for almost 50 years

這個不可思議的系統還是持續運作了近50年，

and ended in 1927

並在1927年結束，

when accurate electronic clocks were good enough to keep time. 文法

屆時精確的電子鐘已經足夠用來計時。

By now,

到現在，

these clocks are long gone, 片語搭配

這些鐘錶早已不復存在，

but signs of where these clocks once stood

但這些鐘錶曾經屹立之處的痕跡

can be found all around Paris.

在巴黎各處都能找到。

And now,

現在，

time for the Primal Space giveaway.

是Primal Space抽獎的時間了。

The winner of the previous giveaway is Ethan.

上次抽獎的獲勝者是Ethan。

Congrats.

恭喜。

In the next video,

在下個影片中，

we'll be giving away another one of our Primal Space Voyager posters.

我們將送出另一張Primal Space Voyager的海報。

All you need to do is sign up at the link below, 講解

您只需在下方連結註冊，

like the video,

給影片按讚，

and leave a comment saying what you think

並留言說說您的看法

about this incredible clock system.

關於這個不可思議的鐘錶系統。

Thank you very much for watching,

非常感謝您的觀看，

and I'll see you in the next video.

我們下個影片見。