Relative and Absolute Dating

Front

What is the difference between absolute age and relative age?

Back

Only absolute dating finds the age in years.

Front

True or False: The geologic record can help scientists to determine past environment and climate conditions.

Back

True

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Front

What do scientists use radiometric dating (radioactive decay) to measure?

Back

Absolute time (dating).

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Front

What does the Law of Superposition state?

Back

Younger rocks lie above older rocks if the layers have not been disturbed.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Front

According to the Law of Superposition, which layer is the youngest?

Back

Layer A.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Front

What is relative dating?

Back

A method of determining the age of rocks and fossils in relation to one another.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Front

What is absolute dating?

Back

A method that determines the actual age of a rock or fossil in years.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

Front

What is radiometric dating?

Back

A technique used to date materials by comparing the abundance of a radioactive isotope to its decay products.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Front

What is a half-life?

Back

The time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Front

What is the principle of cross-cutting relationships?

Back

If a geological feature cuts through another, the feature that has been cut is older.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4