Unit 4: Earth's History

Front

What is relative dating in geology?

Back

Relative dating is a method used to determine the age of rocks and fossils in relation to one another, without determining their exact age.

Front

What is an example of a relative dating technique?

Back

Stratigraphic correlation is an example of a relative dating technique.

Front

What does relative dating tell us?

Back

Relative dating tells us if something is younger or older than something else.

Front

What is the Law of Superposition?

Back

The Law of Superposition states that in undisturbed sedimentary rock layers, the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest layers are at the top.

Front

What is the Principle of Original Horizontality?

Back

The Principle of Original Horizontality states that layers of sediment are originally deposited horizontally.

Front

According to relative dating, which layer is the oldest?

Back

Layer I is considered the oldest layer according to relative dating.

Front

What is stratigraphy?

Back

Stratigraphy is the study of rock layers (strata) and layering (stratification), which is used in relative dating.

Front

What is the significance of fossils in relative dating?

Back

Fossils help in relative dating by providing evidence of the age of the rock layers in which they are found.

Front

What is biostratigraphy?

Back

Biostratigraphy is a branch of stratigraphy that uses fossil organisms to date and correlate rock layers.

Front

What is the concept of cross-cutting relationships?

Back

The concept of cross-cutting relationships states that a geological feature (like a fault or intrusion) that cuts through another is younger than the feature it cuts.