Dating the Earth

Which of the following is the oldest?

• Layer L
• Intrusion D
• Intrusion H
• Layer E

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Which of the following correctly lists the layers in order from oldest to youngest?

• A, B, C, D, E
• E, B, C, D, A
• E, D, C, B, A
• C, B, A, D, E

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Which fossil makes the best index fossil?

• Fossil 1
• Fossil 2
• Fossil 3
• None follow all of the rules

The Law of Superposition helps scientists to determine what?

• The absolute age of rock layers
• The age of fossils
• The relative age of rock layers
• the super powers of rocks

States that younger rocks lie above older rocks if the layers have not been disturbed

• Law of crosscutting
• Law of superposition
• Relative Dating
• Unconformity

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

How does a geologist know that rock layers are undisturbed?

• there is an unconformity

• rock layers are horizontal

• rock layers are vertical

• rock layers are folded

The fossils of organisms that were widely distributed but only lived during a short period of time are called 

• index fossils

• trace fossils

• petrified fossils

Scientists use radioactive decay to measure...

• relative time
• absolute time
• half-lives
• time of day

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

The length of time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay is its...

• era
• age
• half-life
• eon

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Radiometric dating is possible because the rates of decay of radioactive isotopes _____.

• change over time
• change from place to place
• are constant
• vary widely

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8