Evolution Review- Matheson

What is the main purpose of both relative dating and radiometric (radioactive) dating?

• To determine how old a fossil is

• To determine where the fossil fits in the fossil record

• To determine whether the fossil is a missing link

• To determine Earth’s age

Most fossils form in

• sedimentary rock

• volcanic ash

• amber

• ice

What is the main difference between relative dating and radiometric dating?

• Radiometric dating compares a fossil with the fossils of other plants and animals that are known to have lived in certain time periods

• Relative dating is based on other items found near the fossil, while radiometric dating is based on the fossil itself

• Relative dating is based on other species that are related to the species of the fossil, while radiometric dating is based on the soil nearby

• Radiometric dating is based on the half-life of isotopes, while relative dating is based on the placement of fossils near other fossils in layers of rock

Humans have existed for ____ the geologic time scale.

• All of

• Most of

• Very little of

• About half of

How old is the Earth?

• A few thousand years

• Millions of years

• Billions of years

• Too old to measure

What is the geology Principle of Superposition?

• Newer layers (and fossils) are on top of older layers (and fossils)

• the ability of a quantum system to be in multiple states at the same time until it is measured

• it's the best position-- it's super

• older fossils are on top of newer fossils in rock layers

Which was the earliest and accounts for about 88% of Earth’s history?

• Mesozoic Era

• Paleozoic Era

• Cenozoic Era

• Precambrian Time

Which are we currently in?

• Mesozoic Era

• Paleozoic Era

• Cenozoic Era

• Precambrian Time

The earliest prokaryotic life forms evolved without…

• water

• carbon dioxide

• oxygen

• heat

Which of the following is true regarding oxygen in the atmosphere of early Earth?

• the oxygen was introduced by photosynthetic bacteria

• the atmosphere always contained oxygen

• the oxygen killed off some life forms

• some organisms developed the ability to use oxygen for metabolism