CLMS Unit 6B Test Review

Front

What is the significance of coal beds found in Antarctica?

Back

Coal beds indicate that Antarctica was once located at a tropical latitude, where lush vegetation could grow and decay to form coal.

Front

What do fossils of seashells found in a limestone quarry indicate about the area's past?

Back

The presence of seashell fossils indicates that the area was once below sea level, as seashells are typically found in marine environments.

Front

Why is a fossil more likely to form from a fish that sinks to the bottom of a lake?

Back

Sediments in the water will quickly cover the fish, protecting it from decay and scavengers, which increases the likelihood of fossilization.

Front

What is the half-life of a radioactive element?

Back

The half-life is the time it takes for half of the atoms of a radioactive element to decay.

Front

If a fossil contains 1/32 of the original amount of carbon-14, how many half-lives have passed?

Back

5 half-lives have passed.

Front

What type of rock layers do scientists study to understand changes in sea level over geologic time?

Back

Scientists study sedimentary layers to understand changes in sea level.

Front

What is the process of fossilization?

Back

Fossilization is the process by which organic material is preserved in sedimentary rock, often through mineralization.

Front

What are sedimentary rocks?

Back

Sedimentary rocks are formed from the accumulation and compaction of mineral and organic particles, often containing fossils.

Front

What role do scavengers play in the fossilization process?

Back

Scavengers can disrupt the fossilization process by consuming remains, making it less likely for a fossil to form.

Front

How do geologists determine the age of fossils?

Back

Geologists use methods like radiometric dating, which measures the decay of radioactive isotopes, to determine the age of fossils.