Why do we have time zones? - Worksheet

Time zones are a crucial aspect of our global system of timekeeping, designed to help us manage the varying times of daylight across the world as the Earth rotates. Each time zone represents a region where the local or standard time is the same. This system is essential because it allows for a standardized understanding of time, especially given that the Earth experiences sunrise and sunset at different times due to its spherical shape. Time zones provide a way to coordinate time across different regions, ensuring that noon is approximately when the sun is at its highest point in the sky for any given location.

Understanding time zones is not only beneficial for personal orientation but also for international communication and travel. Without time zones, scheduling across different countries would be chaotic, as every place on Earth would have a different local time. The concept of time zones simplifies this by dividing the world into areas that observe the same standard time, making it easier to arrange meetings, flights, and global events. Maps are an invaluable tool in this context, as they help us visualize the location of these time zones and understand the spatial relationship between different areas of the world and their corresponding times.