Fossils & The Fossil Record

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What are fossils?

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Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms, typically found in sedimentary rock.

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What is the fossil record?

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The fossil record is the history of life on Earth as documented by fossils, showing the progression of species over time.

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In which type of rock are fossils typically found?

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Fossils are usually found in sedimentary rock.

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What is relative dating?

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Relative dating is a method used to determine the age of fossils by comparing their placement in layers of rock.

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What is radioactive dating?

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Radioactive dating is a technique used to date materials by comparing the abundance of a radioactive isotope to its decay products.

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What does the law of superposition state?

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

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What can cause an environment to change over time?

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Environmental changes can be caused by natural events like volcanic eruptions, climate change, or tectonic shifts.

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What is an example of a fossil trace?

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An example of a fossil trace is a footprint or burrow left by an organism.

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How can scientists determine the age of a fossil?

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Scientists can determine the age of a fossil using relative dating, radioactive dating, and the law of superposition.

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What is extinction?

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Extinction is the end of an organism or a group of organisms, meaning they no longer exist.