MS-ESS2-3: Fossils and Plate Motions

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Paleontology Noun

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[pay-lee-on-TOL-uh-jee]

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Paleontology

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The branch of science devoted to the study of fossils to understand ancient life and past environments on Earth.

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Example: The image shows how dinosaur remains become fossils over time, illustrating paleontology.

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Fossil Noun

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[FOS-uhl]

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Fossil

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The preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms, such as bones, shells, or footprints, typically found in rock.

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Example: A fossil showing the preserved skeleton of an ancient organism in rock.

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Body Fossil Noun

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[BOD-ee FOS-uhl]

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Body Fossil

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A type of fossil that preserves parts of an organism's actual body, such as its bones, shells, or teeth.

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Example: The image shows a fossilized skeleton, illustrating a body fossil where bones are preserved.

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Trace Fossil Noun

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[trayss FOS-uhl]

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Trace Fossil

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A type of fossil that preserves evidence of an organism's activities, such as its footprints, burrows, or droppings.

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Example: A footprint fossil showing evidence of an ancient animal's activity.

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Sediment Noun

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[SED-uh-muhnt]

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Sediment

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Small, solid pieces of material from rocks or living things that are deposited by water, wind, or ice.

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Example: The image shows layers of sediment deposited by a river, illustrating how small pieces of material accumulate over time.

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Weathering Noun

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[WETH-er-ing]

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Weathering

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The process that breaks down rocks and other substances at Earth's surface through physical or chemical means.

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Example: A river erodes the land, breaking down rocks and soil, demonstrating weathering.

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Erosion Noun

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[ih-ROH-zhuhn]

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Erosion

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The process where natural forces like wind, water, or ice move weathered rock and soil to a new location.

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Example: This image shows how a river erodes the land, moving soil and rock to a new location.

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Uniformitarianism Noun

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[yoo-nuh-fawr-mi-TAIR-ee-uh-niz-uhm]

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Uniformitarianism

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The geologic principle that processes shaping Earth today are the same as those that occurred in the distant past.

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Example: Layers of sedimentary rock show how Earth's surface has been shaped over time, illustrating uniformitarianism.

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Index Fossil Noun

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[IN-deks FOS-uhl]

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Index Fossil

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A fossil from a widespread organism that lived for a short geologic time, used to date rock layers.

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Example: The image shows index fossils in rock layers, helping to date the layers by their position.

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Plate Tectonics Noun

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[playt tek-TON-iks]

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Plate Tectonics

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The scientific theory that Earth's outer layer is composed of large, moving pieces called tectonic plates.

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Example: The image shows tectonic plates moving, illustrating the concept of plate tectonics.