Determining Rocks Age (8th Grade)

Define: Relative Age

• When one variable is dependent on another variable.

• Relative age is the age of a rock layer (or the fossils it contains) compared to other layers

• The age of a rock compared to the ages of other rocks.

• Who knows!

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Define: Absolute Age

• The age of a rock given as the number of days since the rock formed.

• Age can be determined by using radiometric dating.

• The age of a rock given as the number of weeks since the rock formed.

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

Define: Law of Superposition

• This is Hard Mr. Neal.

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

• A song by Stevie Wonder

• Older rock layers are found at the bottom. Scientists can read layers of rock knowing that each layer of sediment is deposited on top of older layers.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Define: Fossil

• Any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age.

• Jurassic Park

• The preserved remains or traces of an organism that lived in the past.

• Bones!

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Define: Unconformity

• This is a lot!

• A gap in the geologic record that shows where rock layers have been lost due to erosion.

• A type of geologic contact a boundary between rocks caused by a period of erosion or a pause in sediment accumulation, followed by the deposition of sediments anew

• The condition of being unconformable

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Define: Radioactive Decay

• Faith did it!

• A process for determining the age of an object by measuring the amount of a given radioactive material it contains

• Chemicals

• The process in which the nuclei of radioactive elements break down, releasing fast-moving particles and energy

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Define: Radioactive Dating

• The energy called ionizing radiation because has enough energy to knock tightly bound electrons from an atom's orbit. This causes the atom to become a charged ion.

• The process of determining the age of an object using the half-life of one or more radioactive isotopes.

• Emitting or relating to the emission of ionizing radiation or particles.

• It is important to distinguish between radioactive material and the radiation it gives off.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Define: Relative

• Two family members!

• When one variable is dependent on another variable

• Cousins

• Ice Cream!

Define: Infer

• To derive as a conclusion from facts or premises

• The tendency of an object to resist a change in motion.

• To make a conclusion based on prior knowledge or evidence.

• Deduce or conclude (information) from evidence and reasoning rather than from explicit statements.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

What is the difference between relative age and absolute age? Please use examples to explain your answer.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1