Geological Dating Quiz

Jacob has one older brother and one younger sister. He wants to explain relative dating to them using their ages as an example. Which statement describes their ages using relative dating?

• Their ages are 14, 12, and 9.

• They are all about the same age.

• The boys have different ages from the girl.

• Jacob is younger than his brother but older than his sister.

The diagram shows one kind of radioactive decay that is used for dating. Which statement best describes what information is needed to determine the age of a rock sample using this type of dating method?

• the exact mass of uranium-238 in the sample

• the amount of lead-206 present in the sample

• the energy being released by the uranium-238

• the relative amounts of uranium-238 and lead-206

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Which method of finding the relative age of rocks do scientists often use?

• Igneous rock is older than nearby sedimentary rock, which is older than nearby metamorphic rock.

• A sedimentary rock layer in its original position is older than the layers above it and younger than the layers below it.

• Metamorphic rock is older than nearby sedimentary rock because sedimentary rock is deposited before metamorphic rock forms.

• The exact age of a sedimentary rock layer can be found using the layers above and below it, even if the layers are not in their original positions.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Earth is approximately 4.6 billion years old. How do scientists determine this?

• measuring the age of the oldest fossils

• measuring the age of the oldest glaciers

• using absolute dating techniques on meteorites

• determining the chemical composition of sea-floor sediments

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

The 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

• Fault, Rock 2, Layer 1, Rock 1

• Rock 2, Layer 1, Rock 1, Fault

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Geologists are looking for gaps in the rock record by studying a portion of some rock layers. What is the term for these gaps?

• Faults

• Unconformities

• Folds

• Intrusions

How can the absolute age of volcanic ash help scientists find the age of fossils?

• By comparing it to the age of nearby rocks

• By using it to date the layers above and below the fossils

• By measuring the thickness of the ash layer

• By identifying the type of volcanic eruption

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

What is the purpose of using absolute dating in geology?

• To measure the actual age based on the breakdown of unstable particles

• To compare a fossil or rock layer to other structures

• To determine the color of rock layers

• To identify the type of fossils present

What does relative dating provide in geology?

• An exact age of fossils

• An approximate age by comparing to other structures

• The chemical composition of rocks

• The temperature of rock layers

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

In the rock layer where fossil A is found, 0.1 of a half-life of uranium has passed. How old is the rock?

• 7 million years

• 70 million years

• 700 million years

• 5 million years

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4