Fossil Evidence and Relative Dating_FINAL

Open Ended

Why is it important for scientists to study fossils and rock layers when uncovering Earth's history?

Multiple Choice

What are fossils and how do they help scientists understand Earth's history?

• Fossils are living organisms that help scientists predict the future.

• Fossils are preserved remains or traces of past organisms that help scientists understand what kinds of organisms lived long ago and how life on Earth has changed over time.

• Fossils are rocks that help scientists find gold.

• Fossils are drawings of ancient animals that help scientists write stories.

Open Ended

How do sedimentary rock layers help geologists learn about Earth's history?

Fill in the Blanks

Relative dating compares the age of rocks or fossils to one another and determines the

of events without providing an exact age in years.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes the Law of Superposition?

• Older rock layers are found above younger layers.

• Younger rock layers are found above older layers.

• All rock layers are the same age.

• Fossils are only found in the topmost layers.

Multiple Select

Which of the following are characteristics of an index fossil?

• Lived for a short, specific time period

• Found widely around the world

• Helps match rock layers and determine relative ages

• Lived for millions of years in only one location

Open Ended

Based on the diagrams, explain how the order of rock layers and fossils can help scientists determine the relative ages of fossils.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following steps is NOT part of how geologists use relative dating?

• Observe layers

• Identify fossils

• Compare ages

• Measure the exact numerical age

Open Ended

Explain how the Law of Superposition helps geologists understand Earth's history using the Grand Canyon as an example.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements best describes the Law of Superposition?

• Older rock layers are found above younger layers.

• Younger rock layers are found above older layers.

• All rock layers are the same age.

• Fossils are only found in the oldest layers.

Fill in the Blanks

The Law of Superposition helps determine the exact

age of a fossil.

Multiple Choice

The Law of Superposition helps determine the exact numerical age of a fossil. Why is this statement incorrect?

• It only determines the relative age, not the exact age.

• It only applies to marine fossils.

• It determines the chemical composition, not the age.

• It is used for dating living organisms.

Open Ended

How might you apply the concept of relative dating to a real-world situation outside of geology?

Multiple Choice

Which concept helps geologists determine the relative ages of fossils using rock layers?

• Law of Superposition

• Law of Gravity

• Law of Conservation

• Law of Thermodynamics