Front

What are unconformities in relative age dating?

Back

Unconformities are gaps in the rock record that may indicate periods of erosion or non-deposition.

Front

What is radiometric dating?

Back

Radiometric dating involves measuring the amount of radioactive decay in a rock layer to determine its age.

Front

How do index fossils help in relative age dating?

Back

Index fossils are fossils of organisms that existed for a relatively short period of time and are found in many places.

Front

What defines index fossils?

Back

Index fossils are fossils of organisms that were widespread but existed for only a short period of time. They are used to determine the relative age of rock layers by comparing the fossils found in different layers.

Front

What is the principle of fossil correlation?

Back

The principle of fossil correlation states that similar fossils found in different rock layers indicate that the layers are of similar age.

Front

What is relative age dating?

Back

Relative age 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 is the significance of sedimentary layers in relative age dating?

Back

Sedimentary layers provide a chronological record of geological events and can indicate the relative ages of the rocks.

Front

What does the Law of Superposition state?

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 are fossils?

Back

Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms, which can provide important information about the history of life on Earth.

Front

How can erosion affect relative age dating?

Back

Erosion can remove layers of rock, creating unconformities and making it difficult to determine the relative ages of the remaining layers.