Relative Dating Geologic Columns

Which of these choices is an example of the way a geologist would use relative dating?

• determining the minerals that make up rocks

• placing rock layers in order of oldest to youngest

• classifying rocks as igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic

• using radioactive isotopes to determine the exact age of rock samples

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

The following diagram shows rock layers that are cut by a fault and two bodies of rock (rock 1 and rock 2). What are the relative ages of the features in order of oldest to youngest?

• fault, rock 1, rock 2, layer 1

• layer 1, rock 2, rock 1, fault

• layer 1, rock 2, rock 1, fault

• fault, rock 2, layer 1, rock 1

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of plants and animals that have lived on Earth throughout Earth’s history. How does the fossil record of animals compare to animals that exist today?

• Animals in the fossil record are the same as animals that exist today.

• Animals in the fossil record are ancestors of animals that exist today.

• Animals in the fossil record have no similarities to animals that exist today.

• Animals in the fossil record are more complex than animals that exist today.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

A geologist is studying three layers of sedimentary rock in an area. The layers have not shifted from their original positions. The geologist records the relative ages of the rocks. The bottom layer is listed as the oldest. The top layer is listed as the youngest. What did the geologist use to determine the relative ages of the rocks?

• mineral content

• radioactive decay

• the law of superposition

• the principle of unconformity

What is a geologic column?

• a rock structure that is shaped like a column

• a body of rock that cuts through sedimentary rock layers

• a group of rock layers that are taken out of the ground to study

• a group of rock layers that are placed in order of their relative ages

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Which layer is the oldest?

• H

• B

• F

• R

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Which layer is younger?

• O

• N

• M

• P

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

What is the correct order of events from oldest occurring to the most recent?

• C,DE,B,A,

• E,A,B,C,D

• B,D,E,A,C

• C,B,A,D,E

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2