Geologic Time Analyzing the Rock and Fossil Record

Front

What can scientists infer if they find a fish fossil in a desert?

Back

That water once covered the area where this fossil was found.

Front

What does the Principle of Lateral Continuity state?

Back

Sediments are deposited in large, flat sheets.

Front

What is the correct order of rock layers from oldest to youngest: JKLM, MJKL, JKML, MLKJ?

Back

JKML

Front

If fossils are buried in layers of sediment, which fossil is older: Y or W?

Back

The fossil in layer Y is older than the fossil in layer W.

Front

What is the process of determining the order of events and the relative age of rocks by examining their position called?

Back

Relative dating.

Front

What is the Principle of Original Horizontality?

Back

Layers of sediment are originally deposited horizontally under the action of gravity.

Front

What does the Principle of Superposition state?

Back

In an undeformed sequence of sedimentary rocks, the oldest layers are at the bottom.

Front

What is absolute dating?

Back

A method used to determine the exact age of a rock or fossil.

Front

What is radiometric dating?

Back

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

Front

What is the significance of fossils in sedimentary rock layers?

Back

Fossils help to determine the relative ages of the rocks and the environments in which they were formed.