International Date Line Flashcards, test questions and answers

Discover flashcards, test exam answers, and assignments to help you learn more about International Date Line and other subjects. Don’t miss the chance to use them for more effective college education. Use our database of questions and answers on International Date Line and get quick solutions for your test.

What is International Date Line?

The International Date Line (IDL) is an imaginary line on the earth’s surface that marks a change in calendar days. It is located roughly along the 180° longitude, and it serves to separate two consecutive calendar days. This means that when you cross the dateline from east to west, you must add one day; whereas if you travel west to east, you must subtract one day. The IDL was established in 1884 as part of an international agreement between several nations. One of the most interesting consequences of crossing the IDL is that it can make traveling back home seem like time travel. For example, if you fly from Tokyo back to New York City, crossing the dateline will cause you to arrive before your flight took off because East-to-West travelers lose a day when they pass through this line. Another fascinating consequence of crossing the IDL has to do with radio signals for instance, radio stations broadcasting on shortwave frequencies can be heard at different times due to time differences caused by traversing this line. In areas neighboring the IDL (or near other boundaries), these waves may be heard hours or even days later than what would have been expected had there not been an intervening time zone difference. Finally, perhaps one of the more important aspects about the International Date Line is how it affects global communication and events planning across multiple countries and cultures especially those separated by great distances such as China and Australia or Europe and America due to its role in organizing calendars around some kind of universal standard. As technology continues advancing into new realms we are likely going see greater need for establishing uniform dates & times which can bridge any gaps caused by geographic distance or cultural divides.