Time Zones

What is a Time Zone?

Earth rotates once/24 hrs = 24 time zones around the earth.

1 hr between each time zone. Earth rotates through 360 of

longitude in 24 hours. Rotates 15 longitude in 1 hour

(360/24 = 15).

Time Zones

The Earth rotates from West to East (Clockwise).

East of the Prime Meridian are ahead of UT (Universal Time).

West of the Prime Meridian are behind UT.

E.G: If the sun is directly above the PM the time is 12 noon, and the local time in Berlin, Germany (one time zone east) is 1pm.

Why are the Time Zones Jagged?

Countries change the shape of time zones to make sure that everyone in that country is experiencing the same time.

Canada 6 time zones: Newfoundland, Atlantic, Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific.

Time zones are also adjusted so that they don’t pass through a city.

Canada’s Time Zones

Why create the International Dateline?

If you could travel around the earth (to the east) in an instant, you would cross 24 time zones. Each time you would cross a time zone, you would move your clock up one hour. When you got back to where you started, you would be one DAY ahead of everyone else!

International Date Line Distinction between days. Runs from the North to

the South pole, at 180 longitude (exactly opposite of the Prime Meridian).

It zigzags to avoid dividing land masses and Pacific Islands.

If you cross the line going east = Go back a day. (Monday to Sunday) Going west = ahead a day. (Sunday to Monday)

Monday Sunday

Daylight Saving Time Countries change their time according to the

season, and the sun. Summer = daylight hours are extended into the

evening when most people are awake. First Sunday in April to last Sunday in October. In the spring = spring AHEAD one hour. In the fall = fall BACK one hour.