Relatvie Age Dating

Hotspot

Where on this graph would the second half life of this atom be?

Multiple Choice

What does Carbon-14 decay in to?

• Oxygen-14
• Carbon-12
• Hydrogen-14
• Nitrogen-14

Multiple Choice

About what percentage of Earth's History was during the Precambrian?

• 90%

• 95%

• 15%

• 25%

Open Ended

Should notes be worth a grade?

Multiple Choice

According to the law of superposition, which layer would be the oldest in a sequence of sedimentary rock layers?

• The topmost layer

• The middle layer

• The bottommost layer

• All layers are the same age

Multiple Choice

According to the law of original horizontality, how are sedimentary rock layers originally deposited?

• Horizontally

• Vertically

• At an angle

• Randomly

Multiple Choice

What does the principle of cross-cutting relationships state about the age of an intrusion compared to the rocks it cuts across?

• The intrusion is younger than the rocks it cuts across.

• The intrusion is older than the rocks it cuts across.

• The intrusion is the same age as the rocks it cuts across.

• The intrusion forms at the same time as the rocks it cuts across.

Open Ended

Explain how the law of original horizontality and the principle of inclusions can be used together to determine the relative ages of rock layers.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes an unconformity?

• A buried surface of erosion representing missing sequences in the rock record

• A layer of sedimentary rock overlying another sedimentary rock layer

• A fragment within a rock layer

• A horizontal layer of igneous rock

Multiple Select

Which of the following statements are true about disconformity and nonconformity?

• Disconformity occurs between parallel layers of sedimentary rocks.

• Nonconformity occurs when sedimentary rock overlies igneous or metamorphic rock.

• Disconformity is easy to identify in the field.

• Nonconformity involves only sedimentary rocks.

Multiple Choice

Which type of unconformity is formed when rocks are tilted and then new rocks are deposited horizontally on top of the angular rocks?

• Angular unconformity

• Disconformity

• Nonconformity

• Paraconformity

Open Ended

How does fossil correlation help geologists determine the relative ages of rock layers?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following rock formations are present in both Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park according to the correlation chart?

• Navajo Ss

• Kaibab Ls

• Toroweap Fm

• Redwall Ls

Open Ended

Based on the diagrams provided, explain how unconformities and intrusions can affect the interpretation of the geologic history of an area.

Open Ended

Reflecting on what you learned about relative age dating and the Law of Superposition, what questions do you still have or what would you like to explore further about how scientists study Earth's history?

Multiple Choice

How does the Law of Superposition help scientists determine the relative ages of rock layers?

• By identifying the chemical composition of rocks

• By stating that the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest are at the top

• By measuring the thickness of each rock layer

• By analyzing the fossils found in each layer