Determining Ages of Rocks

Scientists estimate that if index fossils were deposited during a certain time frame, then the entire rock layer was also deposited at the same time. A scientist finds Trophite fossils. According to the chart above, in what era and period was this rock layer deposited?

• Cenozoic era; Tertiary period

• Mesozoic era; Triassic period

• Paleozoic era; Permian period

• Paleozoic era; Mississippian period

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

A teacher gave students this diagram of rock layers. The teacher directed the students to determine the relative age of each rock layer based only on the information presented in the diagram.

Which method can BEST be used by the students to determine the relative age of these layers?

• radiometric dating

• rock type evaluation

• the law of superposition

• principle of uniformitarianism

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Scientists found trilobite and brachiopod index fossils in cliffs a great distance apart from each other. What can scientists infer about the rocks in which these fossils were found?

• 
  

  the age of the rock

• 
  

  the slope of the rock

• 
  

  the density of the rock

• the weathering of the rock

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

A section of a rock layer is shown. The evidence in these rock layers BEST supports which conclusion?

• The oldest fossils in this section of rock are trilobites.

• Eurypterids are related to modern-day scorpions and crabs.

• Eurypterids were the least common type of organism in this section of rock.

• There is some overlap in the presence of brachiopods and ammonites on Earth.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

While digging in the side of a hill, students found fossils in the rock layers. From the fossils they uncovered, which was the MOST likely progression of environments in that area?

• It was first a forest and then became a lake.

• It was first an ocean and then became a forest.

• It was first an ocean and then became a desert.

• It was first a grassland and then became a forest.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

• A

• B

• C

How do scientists determine the relative ages of rocks?

• Faults

• Index fossil

• . Igneous rocks

• Radioactive decay (radiometric dating or half life)

• Law of superposition

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

How do scientists determine the absolute ages of rocks?

• Faults

• Index fossil

• . Igneous rocks

• Radioactive decay (radiometric dating or half life)

• Law of superposition

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

• A

• B

• C

• D

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

• A youngest

  D oldest

• D youngest

  A oldest

• C youngest

  D oldest

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4