What do the hands of an altimeter represent?

The hands of an altimeter represent the feet of elevation in thousands, hundreds, and ones. An altimeter is an instrument used in aviation to measure altitude, which is the vertical distance above a reference point, typically sea level. The main component of an altimeter is a dial with hands or indicators that show the current altitude in feet.

The primary hand moves continuously to indicate the thousands of feet, while additional hands or markings show the hundreds and ones, allowing a pilot to read the altitude clearly and quickly. This is critical for maintaining safe separation from terrain and other aircraft during flight.

It's important to have a precise understanding of altitude as it directly relates to the safe operation of an aircraft within controlled airspace. The other options pertain to different functionalities altogether, such as timekeeping or aircraft speed, which is outside the primary function of an altimeter.