Relative Dating practice

Front

What is relative dating?

Back

Relative dating is a method used to determine the age of rocks and fossils in relation to one another, without determining their exact age.

Front

What principle states that in undisturbed sedimentary rock layers, the oldest layers are at the bottom?

Back

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

Front

What is an intrusion in geology?

Back

An intrusion is a body of igneous rock that forms when magma cools and solidifies beneath the Earth's surface.

Front

What is an inclusion in geology?

Back

An inclusion is a piece of one rock unit that is contained within another rock unit, indicating that the included rock is older than the surrounding rock.

Front

What is an unconformity?

Back

An unconformity is a surface that represents a gap in the geological record, where rock layers have been eroded or not deposited for a period of time.

Front

How do faults affect rock layers?

Back

Faults are fractures in the Earth's crust where blocks of rock have moved past each other, often disrupting the order of rock layers.

Front

What is the significance of fossils in relative dating?

Back

Fossils help in relative dating by providing clues about the age of the rock layers in which they are found, as certain fossils are characteristic of specific geological periods.

Front

What does it mean if a rock layer is described as 'younger' than another?

Back

A rock layer is considered 'younger' if it was formed after the other layer, meaning it is deposited on top of the older layer.

Front

What is the purpose of ordering rock layers from oldest to youngest?

Back

Ordering rock layers from oldest to youngest helps geologists understand the sequence of geological events and the history of the Earth's surface.

Front

What is the difference between absolute dating and relative dating?

Back

Absolute dating provides a specific age or date for a rock or fossil, while relative dating places rocks and fossils in a sequence without providing exact ages.