What time is it anyways? Some information about time zones

Why are time zones important? -Not all the Earth can be facing the sun at the same time. -Time zones came about due to Earth’s rotation that causes day and night.

While one part of the Earth is experiencing night, the other side is experiencing day.

To help deal with the differences in night and day, scientists have designated time zones.

There are 24 time zones to match the 24 hours in a day.

The starting point for time zones is the Prime Meridian. The International Date Line is the place where one calendar day changes to the next.

The International Date Line

International Date Line While the world is divided into 24 time zones, there has to be a place where there is a difference in days, somewhere the day truly starts on the planet. Cross the line from the east to the west and a day is added. Cross from west to the east and a day is subtracted.

Here’s how it works: Let’s say you fly from the United States to Japan. Let’s suppose you leave the U.S> on Tuesday morning. Since you’re traveling west the time advances and it’s suddenly Wednesday when you arrive home. On the reverse trip home you fly from Japan to the United States. You leave Japan on Monday morning but as you cross the Pacific Ocean and the I.D.L., the day changed to Sunday.

There are six time zones in the U.S. -Eastern -Central -Mountain -Pacific -Alaska -Hawaii

In the Pacific Ocean, between North America and Asia, there is zig-zag line known as the International Date Line.