🔍 Key Concepts

• Chronometer error vs. chronometer rate and why navigators care more about a stable rate than a small error • Traditional practice with mechanical (windup) marine chronometers used for celestial navigation • Impact of resetting a chronometer on its known, predictable behavior over time

💭 Think About

• Ask yourself: does frequent resetting help or hurt your ability to know how fast the chronometer gains or loses time each day? • Which option best reflects the idea that a navigator wants a steady, predictable rate rather than constantly changing the reference time? • Think about which choice would be considered standard seamanship practice over many long ocean voyages with celestial navigation.

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify which option preserves a consistent daily rate (seconds per day) so you can apply a reliable correction instead of starting over • Check which choice would minimize disturbance to the chronometer’s mechanism and balance wheel, since mechanical instruments like stability • Eliminate any choices that would cause frequent changes in the reference time, making long‑term tracking of chronometer error more difficult