How many degrees of longitude is a time zone established for?

A time zone is established for 15 degrees of longitude. This is based on the fact that the Earth is divided into 360 degrees of longitude, and one complete rotation of the Earth takes approximately 24 hours. Dividing 360 degrees by 24 hours results in 15 degrees per hour. As the Earth rotates, the local time changes by one hour for every 15 degrees of longitude.

This division allows time zones to provide a standardized time reference for navigation and communication, including air traffic control. Therefore, each time zone typically corresponds to a longitudinal range of 15 degrees, facilitating coordinated operations across different regions.

The other options relate to geographic coordinates in a way that does not accurately reflect the basis for time zones. Latitude measures distances north or south of the Equator, and while there are 24 hours in a day, they are not directly applicable to how time zones are structured.