Although the Sundial is very simple to make and to use, it also has many disadvantages. A Sundial is no longer accurate after a month. This is because the obliquity of Earth causes the 'path' of the Sun to change over the months. The same Sundial cannot be used in two different places.

Limitations of Sundial

1. Dependence on sunlight:
One of the primary limitations of a sundial is its reliance on sunlight. As the name suggests, sundials utilize the position of the sun to determine the time. Therefore, they are only functional during daylight hours when the sun is visible. This means that sundials are not suitable for use during nighttime or in cloudy weather conditions.

2. Inaccuracy due to the Earth's rotation:
Sundials are designed based on the assumption that the Earth moves at a constant speed around the sun. However, in reality, the Earth's rotation is not perfectly uniform, which can lead to inaccuracies in timekeeping. Variations in the Earth's rotation speed, known as irregularities in the equation of time, can cause sundials to deviate from the standard clock time.

3. Limited precision:
Sundials provide time readings in intervals, such as every hour or every fifteen minutes. This limited precision can be problematic when more accurate timekeeping is required, especially in modern society where precise time measurement is crucial for various activities. Sundials may not be suitable for situations where precise timing is essential, such as for scientific experiments or transportation schedules.

4. Regional and seasonal variations:
The position of the sun in the sky varies depending on the geographic location and the time of year. Sundials need to be specifically designed for a particular latitude and longitude to ensure accurate time reading. Moreover, the angle of the sun changes throughout the year due to the tilt of the Earth's axis, leading to seasonal variations in the accuracy of sundials.

5. Lack of portability:
Sundials are typically fixed structures, such as vertical or horizontal dials installed on buildings or placed in gardens. This lack of portability restricts their usage to specific locations. Unlike portable timekeeping devices like watches or smartphones, sundials cannot be easily carried around, which limits their practicality in many situations.

6. Daylight saving time:
Sundials do not account for daylight saving time adjustments, which can lead to discrepancies between the sundial time and the local standard time during periods when the clock is advanced or set back. This further reduces their accuracy and usefulness in regions that observe daylight saving time.

In summary, while sundials can be aesthetically pleasing and serve as decorative or historical artifacts, they have several limitations that restrict their practicality and accuracy as a reliable timekeeping device in modern society.

Working and disadvantage of sundail