Age of the Earth

The relative age of a rock is _. 

• its age compared with the ages of other rocks.

• less than the age of the fossils the rock contains.

• the number of years since the rock formed.

• its age based on how much carbon-14 the rock contains.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

What principle states that the geologic processes that change Earth today also changed Earth in the past?

• evolution

• superposition

• erosion

• uniformitarianism

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-1

Knowing the age of rocks important for understanding the history of Earth.  One method for doing this is radioactive dating.  This method allows geologists to _.

• tell the difference between molds and casts.

• tell where one soil horizon ends and the next one begins.

• determine the absolute ages of rocks.

• determine the relative ages of rock layers.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

What are fossils?

• molds and casts of organisms that live today

• footprints or burrows of small animals that live today

• the preserved remains or traces of organisms that lived in the past

• drawings of ancient animals or other organisms

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

What has the study of fossils allowed scientists to do?

• study present ocean temperatures at different depths

• analyze the chemical composition of sedimentary rocks and minerals

• predict which organisms will become extinct in the future

• describe past environments and the history of life

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Occasionally, layers of sedimentary rock are disturbed. When this happens, layers of older rock are pushed and BENT on top of younger layers. What do scientists call this?

• Faulting

• Folding

• Smooshing

• Undisturbed

Trace fossils always form in soft sediment. Which of these choices describes two kinds of trace fossils? 

• tracks and burrows

• bee and beetle in amber

• shells and bones

• petrified and mummified fossils

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of an index fossil?

• Widespread

• Short-Lived

• Abundant

• Rare

A type of organism that no longer exists on Earth is said to be _.

• fossilized.

• petrified.

• sedimentary.

• extinct.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Which part(s) of organisms are most likely to be fossils and why? 

• It would be the bones because they decay the slowest.

• It would be the skin because it's on the outside.

• It would be the internal organs because they are protected from the outside.

• It is equally likely to be any part of the organism.