Page 53 - Red Alert
P. 53
RED ALERT - THE FIRE SERVICE
Looking back in time... ACTIVITY
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In medieval times candles were used to tell the time. The candles were marked down the side with equally spaced
notches to show the time. So long as the candles were the same thickness all of the way down, the same amount of wax
would be melted every hour.
The candle below was lit at 2pm and burns down an inch every hour. To tell the time with the candle, simply count the number of inches
that have melted, then add this number to the original starting time of 2pm.
Can you tell the time with a candle?
TIME=
2.00PM
12
11 1
10 2
9 3
8 4
7 5
6
TIME=
12
11 1
10 2
9 3
8 4
7 5
6
TIME=
12
11 1
10 2
9 3
8 4
7 5 Around 1600 the first primitive fire appliances were made. These were looked after by
6
each local parish (a village) and most were horse drawn. They were made up of a tank
of water with a nozzle on the top.
ANSWERS: 1. 2.00pm; 2. 4.00pm; 3. 5.00pm
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