Flashcard: Evidence of Earth's Change over Time

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What is the theory of continental drift?

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The theory that continents have not always been in their current locations and were once part of a supercontinent called Pangea.

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What does the law of superposition state?

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In undisturbed sedimentary rock layers, the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest layers are at the top.

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What is a supercontinent?

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A large landmass that is made up of multiple continents, such as Pangea.

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What is fossil evidence?

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Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms that provide information about past life and environments.

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How can fossils indicate that continents were once connected?

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Fossils of the same species found on different continents suggest that those continents were once joined.

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What is an example of fossil evidence supporting continental drift?

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Fossils of the extinct plant Glossopteris found on continents like South America, Africa, and Antarctica.

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What is a trilobite?

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An extinct marine arthropod that lived during the Paleozoic era, often used in geological studies.

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What is the significance of gastropods in geology?

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Gastropods are a type of fossil that can indicate past marine environments and are used in the law of superposition.

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What does it mean if fossils of an extinct species are found on two different continents?

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It suggests that those continents were once connected, supporting the theory of continental drift.

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What is the difference between a fossil and a rock?

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A fossil is the preserved remains of a living organism, while a rock is a solid mass of minerals or mineral-like matter.