Air traffic control and mechanical clock: what they have in common

1. Step 1. Air traffic control — uses — Radio. Radio communication.
2. Step 2. Radio — has part — Oscillator. A carrier frequency oscillator.
3. Step 3. Oscillator — is part of — Atomic clock. A quartz oscillator is tuned to the atoms.
4. Step 4. Atomic clock — evolved from — Quartz clock. The quartz oscillator is tuned to an atomic standard.
5. Step 5. Quartz clock — evolved from — Mechanical clock. Quartz clocks replaced mechanical ones: a vibrating quartz crystal took the place of the pendulum and balance.

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