Front

What is Geologic Time?

Back

Geologic Time refers to the vast time scale used by geologists and other Earth scientists to describe the timing and relationships of events in Earth's history.

Front

What is the difference between Absolute Age and Relative Age?

Back

Absolute Age is the exact age of a rock or fossil in years, while Relative Age is the age of a rock or fossil in comparison to other rocks or fossils.

Front

What is Absolute Age?

Back

Absolute Age is the precise, exact age of a rock or fossil given in years.

Front

What is Relative Age?

Back

Relative Age is the age of a rock or fossil in relation to the ages of other rocks or fossils.

Front

What is Radioactive Dating?

Back

Radioactive Dating is a method used to determine the age of an object by measuring the amount of radioactive isotopes present.

Front

What is the Law of Superposition?

Back

The Law of Superposition states that in undisturbed sedimentary rock layers, the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest layers are at the top.

Front

What is Half-Life?

Back

Half-Life is the time required for half of the radioactive isotopes in a sample to decay.

Front

What is Fossil Comparison?

Back

Fossil Comparison is a method of determining the age of rocks by comparing the fossils found within them.

Front

Why do scientists use Radioactive Dating?

Back

Scientists use Radioactive Dating to obtain a specific age of a rock formation, which is more precise than methods like Relative Dating.

Front

What is an Isotope?

Back

An Isotope is a variant of a chemical element that has the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons.