Earths Layers and Plate Tectonics
This is the outermost layer of Earth that is broken into pieces called tectonic plates.
The crust
This supercontinent, whose name means "all Earth" in Greek, existed when all continents were connected together.
Pangea
These scientists study fossils to understand Earth's history and learn about ancient life.
Paleontologists
This law states that in undisturbed rock layers, older rocks are on the bottom and younger rocks are on top.
The Law of Superposition
This is the process that breaks down and wears away landforms over time.
Erosion
This process, like water boiling or a hot air balloon rising, causes hot material to rise and cool material to sink in Earth's mantle.
Convection
The theory that continents have moved across Earth's surface slowly over millions of years.
Continental drift
Footprints, burrows, and coprolites are examples of this type of fossil that shows evidence of ancient animal activity.
Trace fossils
This term describes the method of determining which fossils are older or younger compared to each other
Relative dating
This force of erosion carved the Grand Canyon over millions of years.
Water Erosion
At this type of plate boundary, two plates move apart and new crust forms.
a divergent boundary
This freshwater reptile fossil was found in both South America and Africa, but couldn't have swum across the Atlantic Ocean.
Mesosaurus
During fossilization, the organism must be covered quickly by this material to protect it from decay.
Sediment
The collection of rock layers arranged in chronological order is called this.
The fossil record
This type of erosion creates sand dunes in Death Valley and shapes desert formations in Monument Valley.
Wind erosion
This happens when an ocean plate slides under a continental plate at a convergent boundary
Subduction
Lystrosaurus was a land reptile found in Africa, India, and this frozen continent, proving it wasn't always covered in ice.
Antarctica
Body fossils preserved in amber or ice are called this type of fossil
True Form Fossils
This dating method gives the exact age of a rock or fossil in years.
Absolute dating
Ocean waves cutting coastal cliffs and creating sea stacks along the Big Sur coastline is an example of this type of erosion.
Water erosion
This type of plate boundary is where plates slide past each other, causing earthquakes.
Transform boundary
Scientists found ancient glacial scratches in tropical places like Africa and India, which only make sense if these continents were once positioned near this pole.
South Pole
A mold fossil is an impression left in rock, while this type of fossil is created when the impression fills in with minerals.
Cast Fossil
According to the Law of Superposition, in undisturbed rock layers, the oldest layers are found here while the youngest are on top.
Bottom Layer
Landslides and rockfalls are caused by this force of erosion that reshapes mountain slopes and creates new hills.
Gravity