Rock Layers
Dating
Geologic time
Mass Extinctions
Random
100
If you are looking at 8 different layers of sedimentary rock, which layer would most likely be the youngest (assuming there are no faults or intrusions)
The rock layer near the top
100
The ______________ age of something is the exact numbers of years since the event occured
absolute
100
What do we call the timeline of the planet's life so far?
Geologic time scale
100

How many major mass extinctions have there been?

5 or 8

100

True or False: Humans have been around for the entire history of the Earth?

False

200
A Gap in the geologic record formed when sedimentary rocks cover an eroded surface is called ______________
an unconformity
200

True or False: You can use radiometric dating on all types of rocks and fossils.

False

200
Why do scientists use the geologic time scale
Because the time span of earth's life is so long
200

What was the final event thought to have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs?

An asteroid/meteor hitting the Earth

200

Give an example of a short-term geological processes.

Possible answers include volcanoes, tsunamis and earthquakes.

300

What do we call the law that says the youngest rocks can be found on the top and the oldest rocks found on the bottom?

The Law of Superposition

300
Whats the difference between absolute and relative age?
absolute age is the exact age and relative age is the age of something compared to something else
300
How are Era's different than periods
Era's are much larger. Eras are broken down into periods
300
Name 2 of the major causes of mass extinction.

Possible answers include: Meteor/Asteroid, Major volcanic activity, change in climate, change in temperature)

300

A canyon forming is an example of a __________ geological processes.

Long-term scale

400

What is the name of the law that says geological processes happened the same way in the past as they do in the present.

The law of Uniformitarianism 

400

Scientists use _________________ dating to find the absolute ages of rocks

radioactive/radiometric

400
Which Era was the longest
Precambrian
400

True or False: We are potentially at the beginning of another mass extinction.

True

400
Remains or traces of things that were once alive found in rock layers.

Fossils

500

What is the name of the Unconformity at the bottom of the Grand Canyon?

The Vishnu Schist

500
A ___________ is the time required for half of the atoms of a radioactive element to decay
Half life
500

What do we call the sudden appearance of a wide diversity in the fossil records?

The Cambrian Explosion

500

Where is the meteor that killed the dinosaurs thought to have hit.

The Chicxulub Crater or off the coast of the Yucatán peninsula

500

What organism (living thing) came first in Earth's history?

Bacteria/Archaea