According to the law of superposition, which layer is the youngest?
A
B
C
A
Relative dating of rock layers tells us that the deeper we dig, _______.
the younger the rocks get
the smellier the rocks get
the harder the rocks get
the older the rocks get
the older the rocks get
What is a fossil that is useful for dating and correlating the strata in which it is found?
a petrified fossil
a trace fossil
a cast fossil
an index fossil
an index fossil
What is relative age?
The geologic age of a fossil, rock or geologic feature defined relative to other fossils, rocks or features
The geologic age of a fossil based on when the relatives of that fossil died
The geologic age of a fossil, or geologic event expressed in units of time
How old your mom is
The geologic age of a fossil, rock or geologic feature defined relative to other fossils, rocks or features
Identical fossils in South America and Africa supported which theory?
A. big bang theory
B. theory of plate tectonics
C. theory of evolution
B. theory of tectonic plates
Describe absolute age.
number of years that have passed since the rock formed. It provides the rock with a specific age.
Sedimentary Age
Relative Age
An Intrusion
number of years that have passed since the rock formed. It provides the rock with a specific age
The Law of Superposition helps scientists to determine what?
The absolute age of rock layers
The age of fossils
The relative age of rock layers
the super powers of rocks
The relative age of rock layers
What theory did Alfred Wegner come up with?
A. Pangaea
B. Law of Superposition
C. Continental Drift
The theory of continental drift was not widely accepted by scientists because it could not explain how continents moved. Which theory later explained this?
A. continental drift theory
B. theory of evolution
C. theory of tectonic plates
The theory of tectonic plates
What is Pangaea?
A. the process by which tectonic plates move around earth
B. the scientist who first discovered tectonic plates
C. the name of an ancient supercontinent
C. the name of an ancient supercontinent
Which rock layer in the diagram seems to be the oldest?
F
E
B
A
A
states that the geologic feature which cuts another is the younger of the two features
law of horizontality
law of cross cutting
law of superposition
uniformitarianism
law of cross cutting
According to the law of superposition, the oldest fossils are found
At the top of the rock layers
Near the bottom of the rock layers
In the middle of the rock layers
Somewhat near the surface
Near the bottom of the rock layers
Which is not a method scientists use to determine the age of Earth?
A. radioactive decay
B. core rock samples
C. evolution
D. law of superposition
C. evolution
Which area is most likely the youngest sedimentary layer?
1
2
3
4
3
How do scientists measure the absolute age of a rock?
A. examining the composition of the rock
B. measuring the amount of isotope in the sample
C. comparing rock layers to the ones above and below
B. measuring the amount of isotope in the sample
Which type of dating method can be used on rock layers by applying the Law of Superposition?
relative dating
absolute dating
radioactive dating
radiometric dating
relative dating
Which of the following is the oldest?
Layer L
Intrusion D
Intrusion H
Layer E
Layer E
The radioactive decay of material can be used to determine the age of fossils. This is called
complete dating
absolute dating
relative dating
fossil dating
absolute dating
An element with a different number of neutrons is called a(n)
atom
isotope
neutron deficient
element
isotope
Name the four pieces of evidence Alfred Wegner used to support this theory
Rock layers, Glacial Evidence, Continental Fit, and Fossils
Law of superposition, law of cross cutting, and law of inclusions
What is the difference between absolute and relative dating?
Absolute dating uses exact numbers to tell age whereas relative compares rock layers to another
The time is take for half of a radioactive isotopes to decay into stable isotopes is called the
isotope decay
radiometric dating
half life
absolute age
half life
What are the characteristics of a good index fossil?
1. Unique organism
2. Found in rock layers
3. Lived in short time period
4. Must be found in wide areas of Earth