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Why Do Countries Have Different Time Zones? - Science/Technology (4) - Nairaland

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Re: Why Do Countries Have Different Time Zones? by petrage(m): 3:16pm On Dec 27, 2020
MalaikaEH:
Okay, OP, let me teach you in primary school tone and voice.

My instructional material is a flashlight (touch) and a spherical globe containing map of the world. For easier understanding, take the materials to a dark room where the only source of light is the touch light.

Now, the touch represents the sun and should be kept on a chair at one corner of the room. The sun is the only source of light in the whole universe. The moon and stars merely reflect rays of light from the sun. The sun does not move at all. It is stationary and shines constantly without stopping. So, in this dark room, keep the touch light shining at one place towards the globe without offing it.

Back to the globe, make it stand constantly on the south pole with Australia near it, while the North Pole is constantly upside with Siberia, Alaska and Northern Russia close to it.

Now, set the globe in such a way that the light is shining directly on the map of Nigeria on the globe. In real world, that happens around 12pm in Nigeria. Other countries on the same line (latitude) with Nigeria, such as Italy, Libya, Tunisia, Niger, Germany, etc have their 12pm at the same time. So, it is said that they are on the same time zone.

At this same time, countries and areas directly behind Nigeria on the other side of the globe will have their 12am (i.e. Mid night) because the light from the touch (sun) can not reach them.

The earth rotates anti-clockwise on its axis (meaning that it turns round and round slowly on the South Pole side). So, we turn our globe so that the touch light now shines directly on the map of Ghana, Mali, UK, Spain, etc . In reality, it takes the earth complete 1 hour to make this turn. So, the time zone around the world would have changed by 1 hour. Time in Nigeria becomes 1pm when Ghana has 12pm, At this same time, Senegal would be having 11am. The earth and time continue to move until Nigeria will reach behind the light, which is night. At 12am (mid night) in Nigeria, some countries facing the sun will have their mid day. It takes 24 hours for the earth to rotate completely on its axis. That is what we call one day.

Also, the earth revolves around the sun. That means it continues moving, apart From rotating, until it has gone round the sun. This takes 365 and one quarter days to complete. That is one year.

I hope you all understand today's lesson.
Such intelligence....Pls consider my 'proposal' If you ain't married.

1 Like

Re: Why Do Countries Have Different Time Zones? by BigDawsNet: 3:22pm On Dec 27, 2020
ghettochild:

Another olodo..
The only thing rotation of the earth causes is day night...answer the question for d different time zones



What's olodo about my answer pusssy Asss Nigga
Re: Why Do Countries Have Different Time Zones? by seunfape(m): 3:22pm On Dec 27, 2020
Because earth rotates.
Re: Why Do Countries Have Different Time Zones? by 444crop: 3:28pm On Dec 27, 2020
There could be little proof to still quote that earth isn't as they said... We just can't tell
femi4:
Obviously, it shows that earth isn't flat
Re: Why Do Countries Have Different Time Zones? by femiaction(m): 3:33pm On Dec 27, 2020
We have different time zone because we are in different longitudes and latitudes.
Re: Why Do Countries Have Different Time Zones? by Penboy: 3:34pm On Dec 27, 2020
chrisooblog:
the planet earth rotates slowly over a 24 hour period. as it's doing this parts of the planet are exposed to sunlight which is called day while other parts of the planet are left in darkness which we call night. the time zones indicate the different periods that the earth has rotated.

Canada is 6-7 hours behind because our part of the world rotates and sees the sun before they do. with the uk the time is the same or one hour difference depending on the time of the year. plus because nigeria and uk are relatively in the same area of the earth when it rotates to meet the sun the time zone will roughly be the same.

you will notice also that countries like australia, china, japan are several time zones ahead of us that is because their part of the planet is furthest from us so they would get sunshine before we do. hope this helps



I had that problem throughout my secondary school. Do a Google search and you'll find out the rotation is very fast.

1 thousand miles per hour is thus faster than a fighter jet.

1 Like

Re: Why Do Countries Have Different Time Zones? by lokzie: 3:36pm On Dec 27, 2020
There are a few layers to your question(s), but I’ll attempt to share my knowledge

Due to the movement and position of the sun over the year, different parts of the earth experience different lengths of daylight following the seasons.
The countries closer to the North or South Pole experience these differences more than those close to the Center of the earth (the equator).

This part maybe a little confusing, but is necessary: Conventionally, the earth is viewed a circle (sphere) with 360 degrees. This is the introduction of the idea of longitudes and latitudes (do a little more research if you want a deeper understanding), but it is assumed that every 15 degrees represents 60 mins, therefore if you cross the international dateline from west to east, you gain a whole day. Each of the 24 areas (consisting of 15 degrees) is seen as a time zone.
You know when it comes to time, or the movement of the sun, we think east-west not North-south. Now picture a circle, let’s start from the middle (the part where you can draw the longest horizontal line (diameter) across the circle). If you have the right picture in mind here, you’d notice that dividing that diameter into 24, will give you the biggest single part compared to if you move the line northward or southward and still have to divide it by 24. In Nigeria, I recall comparing sunset times in both Lagos and the east (around the same time), and I think the longest difference I noticed was 30ish minutes. I was probably 9-13yrs old when I may these observations.
So Nigeria falls within a 15degree zone and so we don’t experience drastic differences in daylight durations.

Again the variations are more pronounced away from the equator, northbound or southbound. Canada is the second largest country, after Russia and is in the northern hemisphere. These two reasons makes the variations of daylight or sunlight more pronounced with the seasons, therefore countries such as Canada, US, EU countries, some Asian countries adjust their clocks to maximize the use of the sunlight. In the Spring (March), they ‘Spring forward’ an hour, and in the Fall (last sunday in October in Uk, first Sunday in November- US and Canada), they ‘Fall back’ an hour.

Summary: Different time zones as you move east to west between any two longitude lines- this accounts for the position of the sun as the earth spins round its orbit.

Agbeni33:
Hey guys,

Can we throw more light on this topic.

Why do countries all over the world have different time zone?

For instance, the difference between Nigeria and UK time is just like 2 hours.

Nigerian and Canada time is like 6 to 7 hours difference. So the question is what is the rationale behind this time perspective?

3 Likes

Re: Why Do Countries Have Different Time Zones? by Penboy: 3:39pm On Dec 27, 2020
MalaikaEH:
Okay, OP, let me teach you in primary school tone and voice.

My instructional material is a flashlight (touch) and a spherical globe containing map of the world. For easier understanding, take the materials to a dark room where the only source of light is the touch light.

Now, the touch represents the sun and should be kept on a chair at one corner of the room. The sun is the only source of light in the whole universe . The moon and stars merely reflect rays of light from the sun. The sun does not move at all. It is stationary and shines constantly without stopping. So, in this dark room, keep the touch light shining at one place towards the globe without offing it.

Back to the globe, make it stand constantly on the south pole with Australia near it, while the North Pole is constantly upside with Siberia, Alaska and Northern Russia close to it.

Now, set the globe in such a way that the light is shining directly on the map of Nigeria on the globe. In real world, that happens around 12pm in Nigeria. Other countries on the same line (latitude) with Nigeria, such as Italy, Libya, Tunisia, Niger, Germany, etc have their 12pm at the same time. So, it is said that they are on the same time zone.

At this same time, countries and areas directly behind Nigeria on the other side of the globe will have their 12am (i.e. Mid night) because the light from the touch (sun) can not reach them.

The earth rotates anti-clockwise on its axis (meaning that it turns round and round slowly on the South Pole side). So, we turn our globe so that the touch light now shines directly on the map of Ghana, Mali, UK, Spain, etc . In reality, it takes the earth complete 1 hour to make this turn. So, the time zone around the world would have changed by 1 hour. Time in Nigeria becomes 1pm when Ghana has 12pm, At this same time, Senegal would be having 11am. The earth and time continue to move until Nigeria will reach behind the light, which is night. At 12am (mid night) in Nigeria, some countries facing the sun will have their mid day. It takes 24 hours for the earth to rotate completely on its axis. That is what we call one day.

Also, the earth revolves around the sun. That means it continues moving, apart From rotating, until it has gone round the sun. This takes 365 and one quarter days to complete. That is one year.

I hope you all understand today's lesson.


Wrong.. The sun is not the source of light in the universe.

We have our own solar system which the sun illuminates..

Away from our solar system are galaxies with millions of star which our sun belongs...

And then we have millions of galaxies and so on and so forth.

3 Likes

Re: Why Do Countries Have Different Time Zones? by ReubenE(m): 3:40pm On Dec 27, 2020
hinograce:
I think receiving sun light doesn’t make the time difference. Someone should explain how some area have 3months of daylight ie no night for months in say Canada. In my opinion day time and night time doesn’t affect the time zone. The question is why are there different times in different locations of the earth at the same instance? I am curious like the op

You're very smart. Sunlight obviously does not determine time zones.

Time is calculated using longitude and latitude i.e the position or location of a country from the Prime Meridian or Greenwich Meridian/time.

The Greenwich Meridian is an imaginary line that runs vertically through the globe.
It is calculated as GMT 0°

All the countries to the East of the Prime Meridian gain time (+) while the countries to the West of the Prime Meridian lose time (-)

Using Nigeria as an example: the location of Nigeria in the globe is Longitude 3°E - 15°E of the Prime Meridian, and Latitude 4°N - 14°N of the equator.

Longitude 15° =1hr

Our local time here is 1hr ahead of GMT.
This is because Nigeria is located to the East of the Prime Meridian, so Nigeria adopted Longitude 15° or GMT +1 as her standard time.

Accra, Ghana
London, England etc are few of the countries where the Prime Meridian passes through, so their own standard time is GMT 0 or longitude 0°

When the Local Time in London and Accra is 1pm, the local time here in Nigeria would be 2pm.

While countries like US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil Jamaica etc will be hours behind of GMT cause they are located to the West of Prime Meridian, countries like UAE, Japan, New Zealand, China, India etc are hours ahead of GMT cause they are located to the East.

N.B There are sometimes multiple time zones in some countries due to their size e.g US, Russia.

P. S.
Time zones are largely adopted by individual countries so it can change from what we know now about our local time if Nigeria decides to change the status quo.

Secondly, sorry for the areas I could not give detailed information due to numbers. I can't possibly write the calculations with my phone

4 Likes 1 Share

Re: Why Do Countries Have Different Time Zones? by femi4: 3:43pm On Dec 27, 2020
444crop:
There could be little proof to still quote that earth isn't as they said... We just can't tell
If earth is flat, we ll all see the sunlight at the same time

Experience eclipse at the same time as well
Re: Why Do Countries Have Different Time Zones? by mike8804: 3:45pm On Dec 27, 2020
I have a question: is the earth rotating or the sun rotating? Assuming the earth, is it not logical that everything on earth including ocean, trees, humans, countries rotating with it....example if the earth is rotating, Nigeria should be in position of Canada and maybe Ghana in Russia.

but if the sun is rotating around the earth I think is more logical to explain time difference... just thinking wide

1 Like

Re: Why Do Countries Have Different Time Zones? by Honeylaz(m): 3:47pm On Dec 27, 2020
Bkayyy:
It is because of Corona and racism.

Something wey dey Integrated Science and Geography
must you display your stupidity

Re: Why Do Countries Have Different Time Zones? by sty1es: 3:52pm On Dec 27, 2020
Mbataku96:

My friend shut it
There is a 15m gap between all time zones
I'm not your friend stupid cunt! 15m gap kill you there!
Re: Why Do Countries Have Different Time Zones? by sty1es: 3:56pm On Dec 27, 2020
mike8804:
I have a question: is the earth rotating or the sun rotating? Assuming the earth, is it not logical that everything on earth including ocean, trees, humans, countries rotating with it....example if the earth is rotating, Nigeria should be in position of Canada and maybe Ghana in Russia.

but if the sun is rotating around the earth I think is more logical to explain time difference... just thinking wide
Actually, everything is rotating. The earth is rotating around its axis causing day and night, the earth is also revolving round the sun causing year. The universe is revolving round the multiverse. Now relay your confusion. smiley
Re: Why Do Countries Have Different Time Zones? by femiaction(m): 4:00pm On Dec 27, 2020
We have different time zone because we are in different longitude and latitude.
Re: Why Do Countries Have Different Time Zones? by BananaPeel(m): 4:02pm On Dec 27, 2020
Bkayyy:
It is because of Corona and racism.
Something wey dey Integrated Science and Geography
No mind Mods wey bring am come front page.
Re: Why Do Countries Have Different Time Zones? by OVikkytan49: 4:21pm On Dec 27, 2020
ikorodureporta:
na why moon dey disappear I won know.
Where e dey go ... & y crescent & full moon dey form.
wetin dey block am??

Not sure If I'm right.
The moon has no light on its own, so the side of the moon that faces the sun is what shines light toward the earth at night(reflection of the sun).
And I don't think moon dissapears, maybe when it's not shinning and everything is dark, it means we have got little sun in the daytime (just a guess tho).

I was not taught Geography when I was in secondary school even though I was a science student, it was not even optional, there weren't teachers available to teach us back then.
I stand to be corrected.
Re: Why Do Countries Have Different Time Zones? by ikorodureporta: 4:26pm On Dec 27, 2020
OVikkytan49:


Not sure If I'm right.
The moon has no light on its own, so the side of the moon that faces the sun is what shines light toward the earth at night(reflection of the sun).
And I don't think moon dissapears, maybe when it's not shinning and everything is dark, it means we have got little sun in the daytime (just a guess tho).

I was not taught Geography when I was in secondary school even though I was a science student, it was not even optional, there weren't teachers available to teach us back then.
I stand to be corrected.

...if I can see the sun & a Half moon in the afternoon, then what's blocking the moon,
Re: Why Do Countries Have Different Time Zones? by chrisooblog: 4:35pm On Dec 27, 2020
thanks for the correction. guess that goes to show how vast the earth is

Penboy:


I had that problem throughout my secondary school. Do a Google search and you'll find out the rotation is very fast.

1 thousand miles per hour is thus faster than a fighter jet.

1 Like 1 Share

Re: Why Do Countries Have Different Time Zones? by OVikkytan49: 4:35pm On Dec 27, 2020
inumidun2010:


lols... Geographical terms are different from Dictionary Meaning... Rotation of the Earth is different from Revolution of the Earth... check your Geography Text... There are numerous Scientific terms that are not present in CONVENTIONAL DICTIONARY... We learn everyday... Neither am I too big to be CORRECTED

God bless you my brother. There are some terms that are only meant for the field we are.
In some fields, they may refer to something going backward as 'anti-clock wise', surface of the earth as 'terrain' etc.
Re: Why Do Countries Have Different Time Zones? by StubbornWife(f): 4:35pm On Dec 27, 2020
The op should change his name from agbeni to agbaya for asking this kind of question... Tomorrow we start whinnying when they say our graduates are unemployable
Re: Why Do Countries Have Different Time Zones? by Oyiboman69: 4:37pm On Dec 27, 2020
bigpriik:
Op it's because of the rotation of the earth ,if the earth rotates you country away from the sun then it become evening or night ,the other part that faces the sun becomes day.
Simple geography.
Does that changes the clock too
Re: Why Do Countries Have Different Time Zones? by hinograce: 4:38pm On Dec 27, 2020
ReubenE:


You're very smart. Sunlight obviously does not determine time zones.

Time is calculated using longitude and latitude i.e the position or location of a country from the Prime Meridian or Greenwich Meridian/time.

The Greenwich Meridian is an imaginary line that runs vertically through the globe.
It is calculated as GMT 0°

All the countries to the East of the Prime Meridian gain time (+) while the countries to the West of the Prime Meridian lose time (-)

Using Nigeria as an example: the location of Nigeria in the globe is Longitude 3°E - 15°E of the Prime Meridian, and Latitude 4°N - 14°N of the equator.

Longitude 15° =1hr

Our local time here is 1hr ahead of GMT.
This is because Nigeria is located to the East of the Prime Meridian, so Nigeria adopted Longitude 15° or GMT +1 as her standard time.

Accra, Ghana
London, England etc are few of the countries where the Prime Meridian passes through, so their own standard time is GMT 0 or longitude 0°

When the Local Time in London and Accra is 1pm, the local time here in Nigeria would be 2pm.

While countries like US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil Jamaica etc will be hours behind of GMT cause they are located to the West of Prime Meridian, countries like UAE, Japan, New Zealand, China, India etc are hours ahead of GMT cause they are located to the East.

N.B There are sometimes multiple time zones in some countries due to their size e.g US, Russia.

P. S.
Time zones are largely adopted by individual countries so it can change from what we know now about our local time if Nigeria decides to change the status quo.

Secondly, sorry for the areas I could not give detailed information due to numbers. I can't possibly write the calculations with my phone

thanks. This has certainly answered my questions and I am more knowledgeable now. Thanks

2 Likes

Re: Why Do Countries Have Different Time Zones? by Kinematics: 4:46pm On Dec 27, 2020
mike8804:
I have a question: is the earth rotating or the sun rotating? Assuming the earth, is it not logical that everything on earth including ocean, trees, humans, countries rotating with it....example if the earth is rotating, Nigeria should be in position of Canada and maybe Ghana in Russia.

but if the sun is rotating around the earth I think is more logical to explain time difference... just thinking wide


The earth rotates horizontally not vertically on its axis, while rotating it revolves around the sun.

Rotation causes day and night while revolution causes year.

The earth uses 24hrs to make a complete rotation, while it uses 365days or 366 days to revolve round the sun.


The sun does not rotate, rather the earth does.

1 Like

Re: Why Do Countries Have Different Time Zones? by Godsown0: 4:49pm On Dec 27, 2020
Sun no dey touch USA why?
MalaikaEH:
Okay, OP, let me teach you in primary school tone and voice.

My instructional material is a flashlight (touch) and a spherical globe containing map of the world. For easier understanding, take the materials to a dark room where the only source of light is the touch light.

Now, the touch represents the sun and should be kept on a chair at one corner of the room. The sun is the only source of light in the whole universe. The moon and stars merely reflect rays of light from the sun. The sun does not move at all. It is stationary and shines constantly without stopping. So, in this dark room, keep the touch light shining at one place towards the globe without offing it.

Back to the globe, make it stand constantly on the south pole with Australia near it, while the North Pole is constantly upside with Siberia, Alaska and Northern Russia close to it.

Now, set the globe in such a way that the light is shining directly on the map of Nigeria on the globe. In real world, that happens around 12pm in Nigeria. Other countries on the same line (latitude) with Nigeria, such as Italy, Libya, Tunisia, Niger, Germany, etc have their 12pm at the same time. So, it is said that they are on the same time zone.

At this same time, countries and areas directly behind Nigeria on the other side of the globe will have their 12am (i.e. Mid night) because the light from the touch (sun) can not reach them.

The earth rotates anti-clockwise on its axis (meaning that it turns round and round slowly on the South Pole side). So, we turn our globe so that the touch light now shines directly on the map of Ghana, Mali, UK, Spain, etc . In reality, it takes the earth complete 1 hour to make this turn. So, the time zone around the world would have changed by 1 hour. Time in Nigeria becomes 1pm when Ghana has 12pm, At this same time, Senegal would be having 11am. The earth and time continue to move until Nigeria will reach behind the light, which is night. At 12am (mid night) in Nigeria, some countries facing the sun will have their mid day. It takes 24 hours for the earth to rotate completely on its axis. That is what we call one day.

Also, the earth revolves around the sun. That means it continues moving, apart From rotating, until it has gone round the sun. This takes 365 and one quarter days to complete. That is one year.

I hope you all understand today's lesson.

1 Like

Re: Why Do Countries Have Different Time Zones? by Kinematics: 4:52pm On Dec 27, 2020
Godsown0:
Sun no dey touch USA why?


Sun no dey touch USA?
Re: Why Do Countries Have Different Time Zones? by Coinbased: 4:52pm On Dec 27, 2020
Geography will tell
Re: Why Do Countries Have Different Time Zones? by OVikkytan49: 4:52pm On Dec 27, 2020
ikorodureporta:


...if I can see the sun & a Half moon in the afternoon, then what's blocking the moon,

I don't have the answer to your question, someone else who does might help you out.

1 Like

Re: Why Do Countries Have Different Time Zones? by Godsown0: 4:57pm On Dec 27, 2020
I have not been there but I’ve nor seen a pic or video where direct sun hits US, have u?
Kinematics:



Sun no dey touch USA?

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