Erosion
What is the process of moving sediment?
Erosion
What are rocks that contain evidence of past life?
Fossils
What is rock formed from pressed sediment?
Sedimentary rock
Who studies the composition of Earth?
Geologists
What does the geologic time scale track?
Earth's history and the evolution of life
What are two agents of erosion?
Wind & water
What do paleontologists study?
Fossils and the history of life on Earth
What is lithification?
The process of turning sediment into rock through compaction and cementation
What is a geologist's primary focus?
Studying rocks and Earth's processes
How many years of Earth’s history does it cover?
Approximately 4.6 billion years.
Define "sediment"
Small pieces of rock and soil that are transported by wind or water.
Name three types of fossils.
Body fossils, trace fossils, and mold fossils
Describe the characteristics of sedimentary rock.
Often layered, contains fossils, and is formed from sediment.
What tools do geologists use?
Rock hammers, hand lenses, and GPS devices.
What are the major divisions of the geologic time scale?
Eons, eras, periods, and epochsEons, eras, periods, and epochs
What is the role of water in erosion?
Water can carry sediment away, leading to erosion of landforms.
What can fossils tell us about past environments?
Fossils can indicate the climate and ecosystem of the time.
What are the three types of sedimentary rock?
Clastic, chemical, and organic.
What is the importance of studying rock layers?
It helps us understand Earth's history and geological processes.
Explain the concept of relative dating.
Determining the age of rocks based on their position in layers.
Explain how vegetation affects erosion.
Vegetation helps to anchor soil, reducing the amount of erosion.
Explain how fossils are formed.
Fossils form when organisms are buried quickly and preserved in sediment.
Explain the process of sedimentary rock formation.
Sediments are deposited, compacted, and cemented over time.
Describe a day in the life of a geologist.
Collecting samples, analyzing rocks, and conducting field studies.
How does the geologic time scale affect our understanding of Earth's history?
It provides a framework for understanding the timing and relationships of events in Earth's past.