Earth History Vocabulary

The branch of science involving the physical composition and

history of the planet

• Geology

• Science

• Earth History

• Geologic Time Scale

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Very large division of geologic time; usually referred to as the 

longest division of time

• Era

• Period

• Eon

• Decade

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Subdivision of a period; shortest division of geologic time 

• Eon

• Epoch

• Era

• Period

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Method of determining the age based on measuring radioactive 

elements (radiometric) 

• Relative Age

• Radioactive Dating

• Law of Superposition

• Fossil Record

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Determination of the age of a rock based on the surrounding 

evidence

• Relative Age

• Radioactive Dating

• Fossil Record

• Absolute Age

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

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

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Remains or impression of an organism preserved in petrified 

rock

• Fossil

• Trace Fossil

• Mold Fossil

• Cast Fossil

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Refers to the information provided by all of the discovered 

fossils throughout geologic history

• Fossil Record

• Trace Fossil

• Cast Fossil

• Fossil

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

States that younger rock is found above older rock when 

comparing undisturbed sedimentary rock layers

• Absolute Age

• Law of Superposition

• Radioactive Dating

• Fossil

A fossilized piece of evidence of an organism's activity (such as 

a footprint)

• Mold fossil

• Trace Fossil

• Cast Fossil

• Perserved Fossil

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1