Time zones are regions of the Earth that have the same standard time. They are primarily defined by their offset from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), which is the time standard used worldwide. Time zones are established to account for the Earth’s rotation and the varying positions of the sun at different longitudes.
As the Earth rotates 360 degrees in approximately 24 hours, it experiences a change in sunlight and darkness, leading to different local times in various areas. This division into time zones allows for a more organized schedule across the globe, facilitating communication, travel, and commerce.
Time zones typically span 15 degrees of longitude, corresponding to one hour of time difference. However, some time zones may vary due to political, geographical, or social reasons, leading to irregular borders.
In summary, time zones help synchronize clocks and times across different regions, making it possible for people to coordinate activities at local times even when they are geographically distant from one another.