Final answer:
When it is noon in New York City, which is in the Eastern Standard Time Zone, it is 9:00 AM in California, located in the Pacific Standard Time Zone. This three-hour time difference accounts for the relative positions of these locations within their respective time zones.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering the time zones of the United States, it's essential to understand the differences in hours as we move from one time zone to another. In this particular case, we need to calculate what time it is in the Pacific Time Zone when it's noon in the Eastern Time Zone. The Eastern Standard Time Zone is three hours ahead of the Pacific Time Zone, meaning that when it is noon in New York, which lies in the Eastern Time Zone, it is actually three hours earlier in California, which is in the Pacific Time Zone.
To solve this, we can set up an equation: Time in California = Time in New York - 3 hours. If it is noon in New York, then the equation will be: Time in California = 12:00 PM - 3 hours, which results in 9:00 AM. Therefore, when it is noon in New York, it is 9:00 AM in California.
This system of time zones allows us to keep a standardized measure of time across wide geographical areas, accounting for the Earth's rotation and the position of the sun in the sky. Though time zones are roughly based on 15-degree longitudinal intervals, the actual boundaries can be irregular due to political, social, and practical factors, as seen in the US and other countries around the world.