Study Guides

Unit Summary

This unit explores the relationship between the Earth's rotation, day and night, and time zones. Pupils learn how longitude affects time, investigate the International Date Line, and consider what happens when we travel across the globe.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to identify the Prime Meridian and understand time zones.

Key Notes

• Time zones to the east of the Prime Meridian are 'UTC (or GMT) plus'; time zones to the west are 'minus UTC (or GMT)'.
• Webcams are a useful source of information about what is happening in places which are in different time zones.
• Earth is divided into 24 standard meridians, at intervals of 15˚, which are the basis for delineating 24 time zones.
• Time zones are measured from the Prime Meridian at 0˚ longitude, where the time is Universal Co-ordinated Time (UTC).

Vocabulary To Learn

• Co-ordinated Universal Time: Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) is a standard system that is used to set all the world's time zones.
• Greenwich Mean Time: Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is the time at the zero degree line of longitude, also known as the Prime Meridian.
• Prime Meridian: The Prime Meridian is the line of longitude at 0 degrees, from which the other lines of longitude are measured east and west.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• UTC and GMT are the same.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

More Lessons In This Unit

• Day and night Study Guide
• The International Date Line and time Study Guide
• Travel and time Study Guide
• Using digital maps to plan a trip to a different time zone Study Guide