Stratification and Rock Dating

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

How old do Paleontologists believe the Earth is?

• 2015 years old
• 3.6 billion years old
• 4.6 billion years old
• 4.6 million years old

According to the law of superposition, the oldest fossils are found 

• At the top of the rock layers
• Near the bottom of the rock layers
• In the middle of the rock layers
• Somewhat near the surface

_{What can scientists learn from the sequence of rock layers?}

• Geologic history of that area
• Future geological events
• the number of organisms that live in the area
• the impact that hikers have had on an area.

_{Which rock layer in the diagram seems to be the oldest?}

• F
• E
• B
• A

If an index fossil is found in two rock layers that are separated by an ocean, what do you know about the relationship between the two rock layers?

• they are about the same age
• they used to be in the same area
• the are made of the same kind of rock
• the rock layers are unrelated

Which type of dating method can be used on rock layers by applying the Law of Superposition?

• relative dating
• absolute dating
• radioactive dating
• radiometric dating

What 2 things make a good index fossil?

• Good looks and a great smile
• widespread and on Earth of a short time
• widespread and on Earth for a long time
• only found in Clinton Twp and in every rock layer

Which of the following is the oldest?

• Layer L
• Intrusion D
• Intrusion H
• Layer E

What happens during radioactive decay?

• A stable isotope of one element changes into an unstable isotope of a different element
• A stable isotope of one element changes into an unstable isotope of the same element
• An unstable isotope of one element changes into a stable isotope of a different element
• An unstable isotope of one element changes into a stable isotope of the same element