Vocabulary for Earth's History, Evolution and Climate

A trace of an ancient organism that has been preserved in rock.

• Homologous Structure

• Fossil

• Analogous Structure

• Fossil Record

The history of life as documented by fossils, the remains or imprints of the organisms from earlier geological periods preserved in sedimentary rock.

• None of these are correct

• Trace Fossil

• Geologic Time Scale

• Fossil Record

A type of rock that forms when particles from other rocks or the remains of plants and animals are pressed and cemented together. The type of rock in which fossils are found.

• Igneous Rock

• Sedimentary Rock

• Rock Layers

• All Rock

A type of organism that no longer exists anywhere on Earth.

• Endangered

• Extinct

• Horned Owl

The age of rock given as the number of years since the rock formed.

• Absolute Age

• Relative Age

• Moderate Age

• Undefined Age

The breakdown of a radioactive element, releasing particles and energy.

• Relative Age

• Carbon 14

• Radioactive Decay

• Igneous Rock

The time it takes for half of the atoms of a radioactive element to decay.

• Radioactive Decay

• Half-Life

• Absolute Age

• Relative Age

The age of rock compared to the ages of the rock layers above and below.

• Absolute Age

• Law of Superposition

• Theory of Natural Selection

• Relative Age

The geologic principle that states that in horizontal layers of sedimentary rock, each layer is older than the layers above it and younger than the layers below it.

• Law of Superposition

• Law of Relative Age

• Law of dating Strata

• Law of Radioactive Decay

A layer of sedimentary rock or soil, or igneous rock that formed on Earth’s surface with internally consistent characteristics that distinguish it from other layers

• Rock Layers

• Strata

• Stratification

• None of these are correct