Every degree past a meridian equates to how much time in minutes?

Every degree of longitude corresponds to a division of the Earth's rotation. The Earth rotates 360 degrees in about 24 hours, which can be broken down into minutes. Therefore, to calculate how many minutes correspond to each degree:

1. First, consider that 24 hours equals 1,440 minutes (24 hours x 60 minutes/hour).
2. Dividing 1,440 minutes by 360 degrees gives 4 minutes per degree.

This calculation reveals that for every degree past a meridian, there are indeed 4 minutes. The correct answer is explicitly tied to the relationship between degrees of longitude and time, reflecting the Earth's rotation and the corresponding changes in local time. Understanding this conversion is essential for navigational purposes and for understanding time zones.