The Prime Meridian's relationship to time zones refers to which concept?

• A. Time zones
• B. Latitude lines
• C. Ocean currents
• D. Global winds

Answer: (A)

Time zones are based on longitude, with the Prime Meridian acting as the starting point for measuring longitude and setting a global reference for time. Because the Earth rotates once every 24 hours, the world is divided into longitudinal sections that roughly align with one-hour differences, each roughly 15 degrees of longitude apart. The Prime Meridian (0°) anchors UTC (often historically called GMT), and as you move east or west from that line, local time shifts accordingly. Latitude lines, in contrast, run east–west and measure distance north or south, not time. Ocean currents and global winds describe atmospheric and oceanic movement, not how we keep time.