RELATIVE DATING

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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.

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What does the Law of Superposition state?

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In an undisturbed sequence of rocks, the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest layers are at the top.

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What is the Law of Crosscutting Relationships?

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The Law of Crosscutting Relationships states that a geological feature (like a fault or intrusion) is younger than any rock layer it cuts through.

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What is a Divergent Boundary?

Back

A Divergent Boundary is a tectonic plate boundary where two plates move away from each other, often resulting in the formation of new crust.

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What is an example of Absolute Dating?

Back

An example of Absolute Dating is using radioactive isotopes to determine the exact age of a fossil.

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How does Absolute Dating differ from Relative Dating?

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Absolute Dating provides a specific age in years, while Relative Dating only determines the order of events.

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What is a fault in geological terms?

Back

A fault is a fracture or zone of fractures between two blocks of rock, which can cause earthquakes.

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What is a Convergent Boundary?

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A Convergent Boundary is a tectonic plate boundary where two plates collide, often forming mountains or causing subduction.

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What is a Transform Boundary?

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A Transform Boundary is a tectonic plate boundary where two plates slide past each other horizontally.

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What is the significance of fossils in Relative Dating?

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Fossils help to establish the relative ages of rock layers and can indicate the environment in which the rocks were formed.