Weathering
What is the process that breaks down rocks?
Weathering
What are layers of rock called?
Strata
What is relative dating?
Figuring out the order of events without knowing the exact age
What are greenhouse gases?
Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, like CO₂ and CH₄
What is the process called when tectonic plates collide?
Mountain formation
What type of weathering involves a change in composition?
Chemical weathering
According to the Law of Superposition, where are the oldest layers?
At the bottom
What does absolute dating measure?
The actual age in years of a rock or fossil
Name one human activity that contributes to climate change.
Burning fossil fuels
How can earthquakes occur?
Sudden movement along faults due to tectonic plate stress
Give an example of physical weathering.
Water freezing in cracks of rocks, causing them to split
What is the significance of studying rock strata?
Understanding Earth's history and finding fossils
Name a method of absolute dating.
Radiocarbon dating
What is the greenhouse effect?
The trapping of heat in the atmosphere by greenhouse gases
What forms when magma erupts?
Volcanoes
What is the primary agent of erosion?
Water, wind, ice, or gravity
How do scientists use fossils found in strata?
To learn about past environments
How does relative dating help scientists?
By comparing the ages of fossils or rocks
How does deforestation impact climate change?
It increases greenhouse gases and reduces oxygen
What is the Rock Cycle?
The process of rocks changing from one type to another
What happens during deposition?
Sediment stops moving and is dropped off, forming landforms.
Define the Law of Superposition.
The oldest rock layers are at the bottom, and the youngest are at the top.
What is the difference between relative and absolute dating?
Relative dating compares ages; absolute dating gives an exact age.
What can be done to reduce greenhouse gases?
Use clean energy and plant trees.
Describe the impact of mountain formation on Earth's surface.
It creates new landforms and can change local climates.