UNIT 3 PRACTICE TEST: Geologic History

Front

What is the approximate age of the Earth?

Back

4.6 billion years.

Front

What principle states that sediment is originally deposited in horizontal layers?

Back

The Principle of Horizontality.

Front

What term describes the time it takes for half of a radioactive element sample to decay?

Back

Half-life.

Front

In which type of rock do fossils primarily form?

Back

Sedimentary rocks.

Front

What can studying fossil layers help determine?

Back

Which organisms lived before, after, or at the same time.

Front

What is a fossil?

Back

A preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms.

Front

What is the significance of sedimentary rocks in geology?

Back

They often contain fossils and provide information about Earth's history.

Front

What is the difference between igneous and sedimentary rocks?

Back

Igneous rocks form from cooled magma or lava, while sedimentary rocks form from the accumulation of sediment.

Front

What does the term 'geologic time scale' refer to?

Back

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

Front

What is the process of fossilization?

Back

The process by which organic material is preserved in sedimentary rock.