Fossils and Geologic Time

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What is a fossil?

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A fossil is the preserved remains or traces of an organism that lived in the past.

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What conditions help an organism become fossilized?

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An organism is more likely to become fossilized if it has hard parts (like bones or shells) and is buried quickly with sediment.

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What does it mean if an organism is extinct?

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An extinct organism is one that no longer exists on Earth.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

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What is the fossil record?

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The fossil record is a collection of fossils that provides evidence for the history of life on Earth.

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Which era are we currently in?

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We are currently in the Cenozoic era.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

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What does the law of superposition state?

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The law of superposition states that in undisturbed layers of rock, the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest layers are at the top.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

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What are sedimentary rocks?

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Sedimentary rocks are types of rocks formed by the accumulation and compaction of mineral and organic particles.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

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What is the significance of the Cambrian explosion?

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The Cambrian explosion refers to a period in the Cambrian era when a rapid diversification of life forms occurred.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

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What are trace fossils?

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Trace fossils are fossils that record the activity of organisms, such as footprints or burrows.

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What is relative dating in geology?

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Relative dating is a method used to determine the age of rocks and fossils in relation to one another.

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