Earth History Review

Front

What evidence do scientists use to determine that some mountains were once at the bottom of an ocean?

Back

Marine fossils found on the peaks of some mountains.

Front

What can be concluded from finding dinosaur fossils in the bottom rock layers and mammal fossils in the middle rock layer of a cliff?

Back

Dinosaurs lived on Earth before mammals.

Front

What can scientists infer about rock layers containing the same index fossil found across the ocean floor?

Back

The rock layers are about the same relative age.

Front

What helps scientists determine the approximate age of dinosaur bones?

Back

The index fossils in the area of the bones.

Front

What do earthquakes indicate about the history of the planet?

Back

The continents of Earth are constantly moving.

Front

What is an index fossil?

Back

A fossil that is used to define and identify a particular time period in the geological time scale.

Front

How do scientists use fossils to understand Earth's history?

Back

Fossils provide evidence of past life and environmental conditions.

Front

What is the significance of finding marine fossils on land?

Back

It indicates that the area was once underwater.

Front

What does the presence of different fossils in rock layers suggest?

Back

It suggests changes in the environment and the evolution of life over time.

Front

What is the principle of superposition in geology?

Back

In undisturbed rock layers, the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest are at the top.