Timers measure passing time — Computing, 4–6
A timer counts the time from a chosen moment until it rings or stops. Computing, 4–6 years.
A timer counts from now
A timer is a computer clock with a job to do. You choose a length, press Start, and it counts while time passes; when the chosen time is over, it can ring, flash or stop.
Why use a timer
People needed a way to know when a short activity had finished without watching a clock all the time. A computer can count the seconds accurately and alert you, so your hands and attention can stay with cooking, brushing or a game.
Set a ten-second timer
Open the timer and choose 10 seconds. Press Start, then count slowly: 1, 2, 3 and so on until 10. The timer rings at the end. If it rings too soon, check that you chose seconds, not minutes.
A timer is not a clock
It is reasonable to think that 10:00 means ten o’clock, because a clock often shows those numbers. On a timer, 10:00 usually means ten minutes remaining, not the time of day. Check the label or the symbol before you start.
Timers in daily life
A timer can tell you when two minutes of toothbrushing have passed, when a cake needs checking or when five minutes of a game are over. It is helpful when you need a clear signal, but it cannot tell whether the cake is cooked or whether the game was fair.
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