Earth History Review

Front

What is the relative age of a rock?

Back

Its age compared with the ages of rock layers around it.

Front

What are the two categories of fossils?

Back

Fossilized Body parts (bones, claws, teeth, etc.) and fossilized Traces (footprints, nests, dung, etc.).

Front

What does the Law of Superposition state?

Back

In undisturbed layers of sedimentary rock, the lowest layers contain the older rocks.

Front

What can identical index fossils in different rock layers indicate?

Back

The two rock layers were deposited at approximately the same time.

Front

How do you determine the order of rock layers from oldest to youngest?

Back

By analyzing the sequence of layers and faults, such as T, S, V, R, Q.

Front

What is an index fossil?

Back

A fossil that is used to define and identify a particular time period in the geological time scale.

Front

What is the significance of carbon-14 dating?

Back

It is used to determine the age of organic materials by measuring the amount of carbon-14 remaining.

Front

What is the difference between absolute age and relative age?

Back

Absolute age is the actual age of a rock or fossil, while relative age is its age compared to other rocks or fossils.

Front

What is a sedimentary rock?

Back

A type of rock formed by the accumulation and compaction of mineral and organic particles.

Front

What is the principle of original horizontality?

Back

Layers of sediment are originally deposited horizontally under the action of gravity.