Relative Dating

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What is relative age in geology?

Back

Relative age refers to the age of a rock layer in comparison to the ages of other rock layers.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Front

What does the law of crosscutting state?

Back

The law of crosscutting states that a fault or intrusion is younger than the rocks it cuts through.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Front

How does the Law of Superposition help in determining the age of rock layers?

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The Law of Superposition helps scientists determine the relative age of rock layers by stating that in an undisturbed sequence, the oldest layers are at the bottom.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Front

Where are the oldest rock layers found according to the Law of Superposition?

Back

The oldest rock layers are always found at the bottom of the rock layers.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Front

What is the significance of the Law of Superposition in relative dating?

Back

The Law of Superposition is significant in relative dating as it provides a method to determine the chronological order of rock layers.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Front

What is an example of a geological feature that can be dated using the law of crosscutting?

Back

An example of a geological feature that can be dated using the law of crosscutting is a fault line that cuts through sedimentary rock layers.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Front

What does it mean if a rock layer is described as 'younger' than another?

Back

If a rock layer is described as 'younger' than another, it means that it was formed after the other layer.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Front

What is the principle of original horizontality?

Back

The principle of original horizontality states that layers of sediment are originally deposited horizontally under the action of gravity.

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How can fossils be used in relative dating?

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Fossils can be used in relative dating by identifying the age of rock layers based on the types of fossils they contain, known as biostratigraphy.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Front

What is an unconformity in geology?

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An unconformity is a surface that represents a gap in the geological record, indicating that sediment was not deposited for a period of time.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4