Geologic Time
This chart divides Earth's history into different time units and was developed using changes in fossils.
What is the geologic time scale?
This type of fossil is an impression of an organism in a rock that sediments can fill in and harden.
What is a mold fossil?
A cone-shaped mountain or hill that forms around a vent in Earth's crust through which molten rock flows.
What is a volcano?
In this state of matter, particles are arranged closely together and can only vibrate in place, resulting in very strong attractive forces
What is a solid?
This method of heat transfer occurs through solids, like when you burn yourself on a stove.
What is conduction?
Known as the “Age of Mammals”
What is the Cenozoic Era?
This type of fossilization preserves evidence of an organism's activity, such as footprints, bodily waste, nests, and burrows.
What is a trace fossil?
This type of volcano has a profile that resembles a warrior's shield lying on the ground and is formed by thick lava flows that flow slowly.
What is a shield volcano?
In this state of matter, particles slip and slide by each other while the space between them increases, weakening attractive forces.
What is a liquid?
This method of heat transfer occurs through fluids like liquids or gases, such as boiling water.
What is convection?
This era is known as the "Age of Reptiles."
What is the Mesozoic Era?
This very rare type of fossil forms when an organism is completely preserved in its original state, like a mammoth frozen in ice or an insect in amber.
What is original material?
These are large symmetrical cones that can create explosive eruptions.
What are strato/composite volcanoes?
In this state of matter, particles move very fast with great distance between them, resulting in very weak attractive forces.
What is a gas?
This method of heat transfer occurs through open space, like heat from the sun.
What is radiation?
This time period makes up approximately 90% of Earth's history and contains fossils that can be 3.5 billion years old.
This process forms when dead organisms are compressed over time, driving out liquids and gases and leaving behind a dark, black or brown imprint.
What is carbonization?
This term describes a volcano that is quiet now but might erupt again.
What is dormant?
This term describes when thermal energy is lost changing solid to a liquid.
What is melting?
Straightening your hair and ironing clothes are examples of this type of heat transfer.
What is conduction?
These are the geologic time units in order from smallest to largest: Epochs, Periods, Eras, and ________.
What are Eons.
In relative age dating, fossils found in these layers closer to Earth's surface are younger than fossils found deeper in the Earth.
What are the top layers?
A type of volcano that has lava that is too thick to flow a great distance. As a result, the lava cools and piles up around the vent.
What is a lava dome?
This is a measurement of a liquid's resistance to flow; honey has a high amount while water has a low amount.
What is viscosity?
Radiators and boiling water are examples of this type of heat transfer.
What is convection?