History of the Earth

Which best describes a fossil that helps determine the relative age of a rock layer?

• trace fossil
• index fossil
• radioactive fossil
• unconformity fossil

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Which process would be most effective in determining the age of fossils embedded in rock?

• relative dating
• absolute dating
• use of index fossils
• use of core sampling

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

The index fossil of a type of trilobite is discovered in layer A of a set of rock layers found at three different sites of a field investigation. Which conclusion can be made about the rocks in layer A at all three sites?

• The rocks are all different ages
• The rocks are all about the same age
• The rocks were formed from melting magma
• The rocks were formed during a catastrophic event

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Which statement is true?

• The oldest layers of rock and soil are closest to the surface of the earth
• The youngest layers of rock and soil are farther away from the surface of the earth.
• Carbon-14 dating is an example of relative dating, and the law of superposition is an example of absolute dating.
• Absolute geologic dating and relative geologic dating are two methods used by scientists to determine the age of geologic evidence.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

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 rocks, 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.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

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

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

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

the system of time measurement involving the formation of  and changes to Earth

• geology
• biology
• gotta stay FLY
• geologic time scale

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

very large division of geological time; usually referred to as the longest division of time

• eon
• epoch
• period
• extinction

a common fossil found in many areas from a specific time; used to help identify the age of other formations

• trace fossil
• mold fossil
• index fossil
• cast fossil