Geo Time

Why is it helpful to use the law of superposition when relative dating rock layers?

• to determine which layer of sedimentary rock of a mountain is oldest/youngest

• to determine an exact numeric age of an igneous rock layer

• to determine the exact age of a human skeleton found preserved in sedimentary rock

• to determine the ratio amounts of stable to unstable radioactive elements in an igneous rock layer

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Undisturbed rock layers are easy to relative-age date, but reality is not always as simple. Often times, plate tectonic activity disturbs deposited sedimentary rock layers. Looking at the image, which statement is true?

• Layer C is oldest

• Layer A is oldest.

• Layer D is youngest.

• Event E is oldest (occurred first).

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

How does this image provide evidence to explain how the Earth has evolved over geologic time?

• All fossils contain the exact same genetic information showing that they share a single common ancestor.

• All fossils are only found in one area of the world, and the same organism's fossil cannot be found in two different locations.

• Fossils of the same type of organism can be found shared across various continents that were once connected millions of years ago.

• Fossils do not provide evidence that Earth has changed over geologic time.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

A geologist was exploring the side of a mountain, and as he dug deeper, he found multiple fossilized horseshoe crabs, which exist in aquatic environments. Which option below best explains why this is possible if there is no body of water by this mountain today?

• The Earth's surface has changed over time and there must have been a body of water at this location millions of years ago.

• Animals that eat horseshoe crabs picked up and dropped off the horseshoe crab remains.

• About 5 years ago there was a giant saltwater lake but it disappeared quickly due to global warming.

• The geologist must have accidentally brought the body of a horseshoe crab and thought they found it in the side of the mountain.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Which of the following best matches what the Law of Superposition states?

• The trilobite fossil is older than the crocodile fossil.

• The trilobite fossil is about 520 million years old.

• The crocodile fossil is about 300 million years old.

• There is no way to know which is older, the trilobite or crocodile fossil.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Which of the following best matches what Radioactive dating would tell?

• The trilobite fossil is older than the crocodile fossil.

• The trilobite fossil is younger than the crocodile fossil.

• The crocodile fossil is about 300 million years old because the igneous rock layer above it is 200 million years old.

• There is no way to know which is older, the trilobite or crocodile fossil.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

The second broadest category of geologic time is______________?. The Cenozoic is one of them.

• era

• eon

• epoch

• period

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

What are the names of ALL parts of the geologic time scale in correct order from broadest to narrowest?

• era, period, eon

• eon, era, period, epoch

• era, eon, epoch, period

• eon, era, epoch, period

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

The epoch we are currently living in is the

• Holocene

• Quaternary

• Cambrian

• Pleistocene

the age of reptiles

• Mesozoic

• Cenozoic

• Phanerozoic

• Cambrian

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2