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The Global Positioning System The Path From Research to Human Benefit (1996) / Chapter Skim
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Pages 5-5

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From page 5...
... It was then that scientists found that high-precision techniques developed to study fundamental atomic structure could be used to make an atomic clock. Their inspiration had to do not with ultraprecise navigation, but rather with the dream of making a clock good enough to study the nature of time itself in particular, the effect of gravity on time predicted by Einstein's theory of gravity and known as the gravitational red shift.
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Key Terms

  • satellite carry
  • defense monitors
  • accurate timing
  • accurate clocks
  • accurate timepieces

  • timepieces depended
  • atomic clock
  • research shortly
  • overhead twice
  • ultraprecise navigation

  • simple quartz
  • fundamental atomic
  • regular vibrations
  • scientists found
  • receiver pick

  • regular swing
  • timing devices
  • satellite allows
  • fourth satellite
  • pass overhead

  • clocks based
  • red shift
  • quartz crystal
  • atomic structure
  • time predicted

  • techniques developed
  • military tool
  • gravitational red
  • study fundamental
  • accurate time


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