Relative and absolute dating

Front

What is relative dating?

Back

A method used to determine the age of one event in comparison with other events.

Front

What is absolute dating?

Back

A method used to determine the actual age of an event or rock in years.

Front

What does the Law of Superposition state?

Back

In undisturbed rock layers, the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest are at the top.

Front

What is the Principle of Cross-Cutting Relationships?

Back

An igneous intrusion is always younger than the layers it cuts across.

Front

What is the difference between relative age and absolute age?

Back

Relative age compares the age of rocks to one another, while absolute age gives a specific age in years.

Front

What is an example of relative dating?

Back

Using the position of rock layers to determine which is older.

Front

What is an example of absolute dating?

Back

Using radiometric dating to find the age of a rock in years.

Front

What is radioactive dating?

Back

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

Front

What is the significance of fossils in relative dating?

Back

Fossils can help determine the relative ages of rock layers based on the types of organisms found.

Front

What is the geologic time scale?

Back

A system of chronological dating that relates geological strata to time.