Time zones were created in the 19th century to solve the confusion caused by each town having its own local time. There are 24 main time zones, corresponding to 24 hours in a day, that are theoretically 15 degrees of longitude wide. However, in practice, time zone boundaries often follow political borders for convenience.
What Are Time Zones?
Time zones are regions of the Earth that have adopted the same standard time, referred to as the local time.
Quick Answer
Time zones are areas of the world that all share the same time. There are 24 main time zones, and each one is roughly 15 degrees of longitude wide. They were invented in the 19th century to standardize train schedules, and now they help us coordinate activities across the globe.
Related Questions
What is UTC (Coordinated Universal Time)?
UTC is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks. It's the successor to GMT and is based on atomic time for precision.
What is Daylight Saving Time (DST)?
DST is the practice of advancing clocks by one hour during warmer months to extend daylight into the evening.
What does GMT stand for?
GMT stands for Greenwich Mean Time, the historic time standard based on the Prime Meridian in Greenwich, London.
What are leap seconds?
A leap second is a one-second adjustment added to UTC to keep it in sync with the Earth's irregular rotation.