How many degrees of longitude are covered by one hour of time?

Prepare for the HSC Standard Math Exam with quizzes and flashcards. Each question includes hints and detailed explanations to aid your understanding. Ensure your readiness for the test!

One hour of time corresponds to the Earth's rotation, which is a fundamental concept in understanding time zones and longitude. The Earth completes a full rotation of 360 degrees in 24 hours. To find out how many degrees correspond to one hour, you can divide the total degrees of the Earth by the number of hours in a day:

360 degrees ÷ 24 hours = 15 degrees per hour.

This relationship means that for every hour of time, the Earth rotates 15 degrees of longitude. Therefore, the correct answer of 15 degrees is based on this direct correlation between time and the Earth's rotation. Each time zone is generally defined by a 15-degree width of longitude, which is fundamental for determining local time based on the position of the Earth relative to the Sun.

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