What describes the theories scientist have for the mass extinction during the Permian and Cretaceous periods
Major, sudden climate change
100
If carbon-14 has a half-life of 5,700 years, what percent of carbon-14 is left after 17,100 years?
12.5%
100
What is a fossil?
The remains of a once living organism.
100
What are two requirements for an animal to be preserved as a fossil?
hard parts, buried by sediments, water
200
Give an analogy for the relative age of 3 rocks.
A girl is older than her brother but, younger than her father.
200
Why are fossils rarely found in metamorphic rock.
Heat and pressure destroy fossils.
200
Give two factors that effect the rate of decomposition
Temperature, humidity
200
What information do we get from the fossil record?
Tells us about how life on Earth has changed over time.
200
Is sedimentary rocks are not horizontal, what can you infer about why that happened?
Layers were changed by geologic process after they formed.
300
What is the most accurate dating method for dating a dinosaur fossil?
Radiometric dating
300
In undisturbed layers, which law will help you determine which layers are the oldest.
Law of Superposition
300
How many half-life's have gone by if there is 25% of the parent isotope remaining?
2
300
What are advantages to relative dating?
It is a good way to get the approximate age of rock layers in the field.
300
What is an anticline?
Rocks that are disturbed into an arch shape.
400
Suppose a rock sample has a ratio of parent isotope uranium-235 to daughter isotope lead-207 of 1 to 1. If uranium-235 has a half-life of 703,800,000 years, how old is the sample?
703,800,000
400
Briefly explain the law of Original Horizontality.
Rock layers are horizontal unless disturbed by geologic processes.
400
What are eras based on?
The dominant group of animals during that time period
400
What are limitations (disadvantages) to radiometric dating?
Takes special equipment, time, and isn't easy to use in the field.
400
What is a syncline?
Rocks that are disturbed into a bowl (sink) shape.
500
Predict what would happen if an organism died in a rainforest where temperatures average 35 degrees Celsius.
It would decompose quickly
500
How does an isotope differ from a normal atom of an element?
Different number of neutrons
500
What type of rocks are fossils found in?
Sedimentary
500
Why is it important to study carbon capture and sequestration?
Carbon dioxide emissions have a negative effect on our atmosphere. Hopefully we can lower this effect by trapping the gas.
500
What is the name of the lead scientist on Jason Mission 3 who is studying carbon capture and sequestration?