Geologic Time

Front

What does the Law of Superposition state?

Back

The older layers of rock are at the bottom.

Front

What can be concluded if a palm tree fossil is found in Alaska?

Back

Alaska once had a much warmer climate.

Front

What is the term for the disappearance of a species?

Back

Extinction.

Front

What is the best definition for adaptation?

Back

A trait or characteristic that causes an organism to survive and reproduce.

Front

What does the Law of Superposition help scientists determine?

Back

The relative age of rock layers.

Front

What is geologic time?

Back

The timeline of Earth's history, divided into eons, eras, periods, and epochs.

Front

What is a fossil?

Back

The preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms.

Front

What is the principle of uniformitarianism?

Back

The idea that the same geological processes that operate today also operated in the past.

Front

What is the difference between relative age and absolute age?

Back

Relative age is the age of a rock layer compared to other layers, while absolute age is the actual age in years.

Front

What is a mass extinction event?

Back

A period in Earth's history when a significant number of species went extinct in a relatively short time.