The Law of Superposition

1. Which statement best describes the Law of Superposition?

• Each sedimentary layer of rock represents 1,000 years of Earth’s age, much like the rings of a tree.

• In undisturbed layers of sedimentary rock, the upper rock layers are older than the lower rock layers.

• In undisturbed layers of sedimentary rock, the lowest layers contain the older rocks.

• Rocks that form near volcanoes are older than surrounding rock.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Scientists find dinosaur fossils in the bottom rock layers of a cliff and mammal fossils in the middle rock layer of the cliff. Which could best be concluded from this evidence?

• Dinosaurs ate plants.

• Dinosaurs were eaten by the mammals.

• Dinosaurs lived on Earth before the mammals.

• Dinosaurs and mammals lived at the same time.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

The diagram shows layers of rock, A, B, C, D, and

igneous intrusion E.

Place the rock layers in order from oldest to youngest.

• D – C – B – E – A

• A – B – C – D – E

• E – D – C – B – A

• A – E – B – C – D

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Which is a process that allows scientists to compare rock layers with others in a sequence to determine their age?

• radiometric dating

• absolute dating

• relative dating

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What can be concluded about the age of fossils in undisturbed rock layers?

• The top layer has the oldest fossils.

• The bottom layer has the oldest fossils.

• The top layer has the oldest and youngest fossils.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Which is used to find the relative age of a rock?

• composition of rock layers

• position of rock layers

• carbon-14 dating

• uranium dating

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Based on the diagram, which is true?

• Layer U is the oldest.

• Layer Z is the youngest.

• Layer T is older than layer S.

• Layer X is older than layer Y.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Which is the best predictor of the relative age of a layer of rock?

• thickness of the layer

• position of the layer

• length of the layer

• size of the layer

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Scientists have identified four sedimentary rock layers

from an archaeological dig as shown.

Which is most likely the oldest sedimentary rock layer?

• Layer R

• Layer S

• Layer T

• Layer U

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Based on the law of superposition, which best describes the ages of four undisturbed rock layers relative to one another?

• All of the layers of rock were deposited at about the same time and are about the same age.

• The youngest rock layer is found on top, and the older layers are closer to the center of Earth.

• The oldest rock layer is found on top, and the younger layers are closer to the center of Earth.

• The youngest rock layer is found on the bottom, followed by the oldest layer, and then younger layers

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