Time Zones and why they are the way they are

Today in class, we wrapped the concepts of early maps and the types of maps and began working on the concepts of time zones through out the world as well as longitude and latitude. We learned that there are 24 different time zones throughout the world for the 24 hours in each day. We learned that for every 15 degrees of latitude, it is a new time zone, each separated by one hour. We learned that there are 180 degrees of latitude east and west, with the prime meridian being at 0 degrees, as well as 90 degrees of longitude north and south, with the equator being at 0 degrees. Finally, towards the end of class, we discussed other possibilities involving time zones. Mr. Shick told the class that at one point in time, someone had suggested that the earth as a whole should run on one time, instead of 24 different ones. This would not only confuse people who are not on the prime meridian, but it would change the time of day things occur, such as the sun setting and rising. We decided as a class that the way time zones function now is workable and makes sense compared to a singular time throughout the world.