Longitude and time zones
I can identify the Prime Meridian and understand time zones.
Longitude and time zones
I can identify the Prime Meridian and understand time zones.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- 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).
Keywords
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 misconception
UTC and GMT are the same.
UTC is a time standard - an agreement to synchronise the worlds timings centres to this standard time. GMT is a time zone.
Equipment
Devices to access the internet to investigate live city webcams.
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
