STD VIII
GEOGRAPHY
1. LOCAL TIME AND STANDARD TIME
Q1. Give geographical reasons:
1. The local time is decided by the noon time.
a. Longitudes help in determining the time of a place.
b. The time of a place as decide by the location of the sun in the sky is
known as local time.
c. The local time of a place on the earth’s surface is determined with
reference to its noon time.
d. This implies that places lying on the same longitude from the North
Pole to the South Pole have the same local time.
2. The local time at Greenwich is considered to be the International Standard
time.
a. Businesses is conducted at global level, when there is compatibility
between the standard time of various countries.
b. In order to facilitate this, the world has been divided into 24 time
zones, which have been created in reference to the Prime Meridian
that passes through Greenwich.
c. The local time at Greenwich (Greenwich Meridian Time) in England is
considered to be the International standard time for international
coordination between countries.
d. Hence, the difference in standard times of various countries is
calculated with reference to GMT.
3. The Standard time of India has been decided by the local time at 82.50 E
longitude.
a. If there are different local times within a country because of
longitudinal differences, then there will be a lack of synchronization
in the routine activities of the country.
b. Therefore, the local time at the longitude which generally passes
through the middle of the country is deemed to be the standard time
of that country.
c. The longitude of 82.50 E passes through the middle of India with
reference to its longitudinal extent, through the city of Mirzapur near
Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh.
d. Also the difference between the local times of any other place in
India and that of 82.50 E, is not more than one hour.
e. Hence, the Indian Standard Time has been decided according to the
local time of 82.50 E.
4. Canada has 6 different standard times.
a. Normally if the difference between the longitudinal extends of the
country is less than one or two hours, only one standard time is
considered for that country.
b. But if the longitudinal extent is more than that, then one standard
time is not enough.
c. The longitudinal extent of Canada is approximately 90 longitudes.
d. Thus the time difference between the eastern most and
westernmost part of Canada will be 6 hours.
e. Hence, Canada has 6 different standard times.
Q2. Answer in brief:
2. How is the standard time of a place determined?
a. If different local times are followed within a country according to the
longitudinal differences, then there will be a lack of synchronization
in the routine activities of the country.
b. If each place follows their local time, it could lead to discrepancies in
carrying out daily business in the country.
c. In order to avoid this, it is a general practice to consider the local
time at the longitude that passes through the middle of the country
as the standard time of that country. This time is used all over the
country.
d. Normally if the difference between the longitudinal extends of the
country is less than one or two hours, only one standard time is
considered for that country.
e. However, if the longitudinal extent is more than that, then one
standard time is not enough and in such countries more than one
standard time zones are considered.
3. A football match is being played at Sao Paulo, Brazil started in India at 6
am IST. Explain what would be the local time at Sao Paulo?
a. Sao Paulo in Brazil is at 460 W longitude whilw the Indian Standard
Time is decided according to 82030’ E longitude.
b. As we move towards the west, the local time decreases by 4 minutes
for every longitude.
c. Total degrees of longitudinal difference = 46 + 82.5
= 128.50
d. 10 longitude = 4 minutes
e. 128.50 = 128.5 *4
= 514 minutes
=514/60 minutes
8 hours 34 minutes.
f. The local time at 460 W longitude i.e. at Sao Paulo will be 8 hours 34
minutes behind the IST.
g. Time in India = 6 am
h. Time at Sao Paulo = 6.00 am – 8 hours 34 minutes
= 9.26 pm
i. The local time at Sao Paulo was 9:26 pm on the earlier day.