Topic 6: History of the Earth

Geologists use radio active decay to determine

• The relative age of rocks

• The type of fossil found in a particular rock

• The absolute age of rocks

• What type of dinosaurs lived on the Earth

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

The law of superposition states that if a fossil is found in a particular layer of rocks, it must be over 3 billion years old.

• True

• False

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Geologists studying the these layers of rock will find the oldest fossils in which layer?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

________________________________________ causes gaps in the geological record (where rock layers have been lost due to erosion)

• faults

• The Law of Superposition

• unconformity

• Igneous rocks

Half-life is used to help geologists determine the absolute ages of rocks. Which of the following best describes half-life?

• The time it takes for half of the radioactive atoms to decay

• Cutting the rock in half and studying the inside of the rock.

• A special device invented by geologists.

• Fossils that only survived half a century.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-5

These diagrams demonstrate the decay of a radioactive element. These would be useful for a geologist trying to determine

• how many atoms are present in a fossil

• which layer of rock a particular fossil is found

• The absolute age of rocks

• The relative age of rocks

Paleozoic means

• a certain type of dinosaur

• extinct

• modern

• ancient life

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

In which era, did the Earth almost become devoid of life altogether (mass extinction)

• Paleozoic

• Cenozoic

• Mesozoic

• Contemporary

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

The era that we are currently in is known as the

• Mesozoic Era

• Cenozoic Era

• Paleozoic Era

• Precambrian Era

This Image depicts the

• Paleozoic Era

• Mesozoic Era

• Cenozoic Era

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4