Turing’s Bombe and GPS (satellite navigation): what they have in common
- Step 1. Turing’s Bombe — has part — Relay. Electromechanics.
- Step 2. Relay — has part — Electromagnet. An electromagnet switches the contacts.
- Step 3. Electromagnet — works like — Inductor. An inductor and an electromagnet are both coiled wire; current through them makes a magnetic field.
- Step 4. Inductor — is part of — Oscillator. An LC circuit.
- Step 5. Oscillator — is part of — Atomic clock. A quartz oscillator is tuned to the atoms.
- Step 6. Atomic clock — is used in — GPS (satellite navigation). The satellites carry atomic clocks; the position is calculated from signal arrival times.