Geologic Time

Front

What is a fossil?

Back

A fossil is the preserved remains or traces of a once-living organism, often found in sedimentary rock.

Front

Is fossil creation a natural process?

Back

Yes, fossil creation is a natural process that occurs over millions of years.

Front

Why may fossils of the same organism be found on different continents?

Back

Because the continents were once together, a concept known as continental drift.

Front

What does the Law of Superposition state?

Back

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

Front

What is the significance of comparing fossils from different locations?

Back

Comparing fossils helps determine the relative ages of rock layers and the history of life on Earth.

Front

What is radioactive dating?

Back

Radioactive dating is a method used to determine the age of rocks and fossils by measuring the decay of radioactive isotopes.

Front

What is the principle of uniformitarianism?

Back

The principle of uniformitarianism states that the processes we see shaping the Earth today have been occurring in the same way throughout geological time.

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What are sedimentary rocks?

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

Front

What is the difference between relative age and absolute age?

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Relative age is the age of an object in relation to other objects, while absolute age is the actual age of an object in years.

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What is an index fossil?

Back

An index fossil is a fossil that is used to define and identify a particular time period in the geological time scale.