Fossil Record

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What is the fossil record?

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The fossil record is the history of life on Earth as documented by fossils, which are the preserved remains or traces of organisms from the past.

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What does the term 'absolute age' mean in geology?

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Absolute age refers to the actual age of a rock or fossil, often expressed in years, determined through methods like radiometric dating.

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What is 'relative age' in the context of fossils?

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Relative age is the age of a rock or fossil in comparison to other rocks or fossils, indicating whether it is older or younger without specifying an exact age.

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What evidence suggests that jawless fish appeared first in the fossil record?

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Fossils found in older rock layers (450 million years old) show only jawless fish, while younger layers (400 million years old) contain both jawless and jawed fish.

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What are mass extinctions?

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Mass extinctions are events in Earth's history when a significant percentage of species go extinct in a relatively short period due to catastrophic events or environmental changes.

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Name one possible cause of mass extinctions.

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Major climate changes, increase in volcanic activity, and asteroid impacts are all possible causes of mass extinctions.

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What is the significance of Layer 4 in the fossil record?

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Layer 4 contains the oldest fossils, indicating that it represents an earlier period in Earth's history compared to the other layers.

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What does it mean if Fossil A is older than Fossil B?

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It means that Fossil A was formed before Fossil B, indicating a sequence of life forms in the fossil record.

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How can scientists determine the absolute age of a fossil?

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Scientists can determine the absolute age of a fossil using techniques like radiometric dating, which measures the decay of radioactive isotopes.

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What is an example of a fossil that is 10 million years old?

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Fossil A is an example of a fossil that is 10 million years old, indicating its absolute age.