Earth's History Practice

Front

What is a mold in the context of fossils?

Back

A mold is a hollow space left when a plant or animal decays, creating an impression of its shape.

Front

What is a cast in paleontology?

Back

A cast is a fossil that forms when a mold is filled with minerals or other materials, creating a replica of the original organism.

Front

What does relative age mean?

Back

Relative age refers to the age of an object in comparison to the ages of other objects, not an exact age.

Front

Which parts of organisms are more likely to become fossils?

Back

Hard parts of organisms, such as bones and shells, are more likely to become fossils.

Front

What is deposition in geology?

Back

Deposition is the process of dropping sediment in a new location after it has been transported.

Front

What is the significance of sedimentary rock in Earth's history?

Back

Sedimentary rock often contains fossils and provides clues about past environments and life forms.

Front

What is the principle of superposition?

Back

The principle of superposition states that in undisturbed layers of rock, the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest are at the top.

Front

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.

Front

How do fossils form?

Back

Fossils form when organisms are buried quickly after death, preventing decay and allowing minerals to replace organic material.

Front

What is the difference between absolute age and relative age?

Back

Absolute age is the exact age of an object, while relative age is its age compared to other objects.