EARTH DAY 3: Fossils & Rock Ages

Multiple Choice

Fossils of species that existed for short periods and were widespread 

• trace fossils 
• index fossils 
• original remains 

Multiple Choice

Produced when sediments fill in a cavity made when an object decayed 

• cast
• mold
• original remains

Multiple Choice

Cavity in a rock made when an organism decayed

• cast
• mold 
• original remains

Multiple Choice

Principle that Earth's processes occurring today are similar to those that occurred in the past 

• unconformities 
• uniformitariansim 
• superposition 

Multiple Choice

Process that uses the properties of atoms in rocks and other objects to determine their ages 

• relative dating
• radioactive decay 
• absolute dating

Multiple Choice

Principle that states in a sequence of undisturbed rocks, the oldest rocks are on the bottom and the rocks become progressively younger toward the top 

• superposition 
• uniformitarianism
• half-life

Multiple Choice

Method by which a geologist can calculate the absolute age of the rock by knowing the half-life of an isotope 

• radiometric dating
• relative dating
• absolute dating

Multiple Choice

Time it takes for half of an isotopes atoms to decay 

• relative age 
• absolute age 
• half-life

Multiple Choice

Method by which order of events or age of rocks is determined by examining the position of rocks in a layer 

• relative dating
• absolute dating
• radiometric dating

Multiple Choice

Correctly sequence the layers of rocks oldest to youngest 

• C,E,D,A,B
• C,E,D,A,B
• C,E,D,B,A

Multiple Choice

What type of fossil is this?

• Mold
• Cast
• Preserved remains
• Trace fossil

Multiple Choice

What type of fossil is this?

• Trace fossil
• Mold
• Cast
• Carbon film

Multiple Choice

What type of fossil is this?

• Mold 
• Cast
• Preserved remains
• Petrified

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT something you could learn from a fossil?

• The size of the animal
• What the animal ate
• The color of the animal
• Where the animal lived

Multiple Choice

Where can the oldest layer be found?

• The top layer
• The middle layer
• They are all the same age
• The bottom layer

Multiple Choice

The Law of Superposition helps scientists to determine what?

• The absolute age of rock layers
• The age of fossils
• The relative age of rock layers
• the super powers of rocks

Multiple Choice

Look at the diagram, what layer did animal E first show up in?         

• Layers #4
• Layers #5
• Layers #6
• Layers #7

Multiple Choice

Which rock layer contains the newest fossils?

• F
• E
• B
• C