12-hour clock facts for kids
The 12-hour clock is a way of dividing the 24 hours of the day into two sections. The two halves are called ante meridiem (a.m.) and post meridiem (p.m.).
Both names are from Latin, and numbered from 12, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11. Time from midnight to noon is a.m. and from noon to midnight p.m. The table at right shows how it relates to the 24-hour clock. Most places in the world use a 12-hour clock for their normal working lives. In Canada and the US the military uses the 24-hour system.
| 24-hour clock | 12-hour clock |
|---|---|
| 00:01 | 12:01 AM |
| 01:00 | 1:00 AM |
| 02:00 | 2:00 AM |
| 03:00 | 3:00 AM |
| 04:00 | 4:00 AM |
| 05:00 | 5:00 AM |
| 06:00 | 6:00 AM |
| 07:00 | 7:00 AM |
| 08:00 | 8:00 AM |
| 09:00 | 9:00 AM |
| 10:00 | 10:00 AM |
| 11:00 | 11:00 AM |
| 12:00 | 12:00 PM |
| 13:00 | 1:00 PM |
| 14:00 | 2:00 PM |
| 15:00 | 3:00 PM |
| 16:00 | 4:00 PM |
| 17:00 | 5:00 PM |
| 18:00 | 6:00 PM |
| 19:00 | 7:00 PM |
| 20:00 | 8:00 PM |
| 21:00 | 9:00 PM |
| 22:00 | 10:00 PM |
| 23:00 | 11:00 PM |
| 00:00 | 12:00 AM |
Images for kids
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Exeter Cathedral Astronomical Clock, showing the double-XII numbering scheme
See also
In Spanish: Sistema horario de 12 horas para niños
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12-hour clock Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.