WorksheetsGeologic Time
Total questions: 8
Worksheet time: 16mins
Which of the following statements best compares Radioactive Dating and the Law of Superposition?
Radioactive dating uses the rate of decay in a rock to accurately calculate the age of the rock, while the Law of Superposition tells us if a rock layer is older or younger compared to another layer.
The Law of Superposition uses the rate of decay in a rock to accurately calculate the age of the rock, while radioactive dating tells us if a rock layer is older or younger compared to another layer.
Radioactive dating uses the rate of decay in a rock to accurately calculate the age of the rock, while the Law of Superposition tells us how many fossils are in a rock layer.
The diagram shows a cross section of folded sedimentary rocks with a fault and an igneous intrusion. Based on the Law of Superposition, which statement best compares the relative age of two rock layers?
Layer M is older than Layer D.
Layer K is younger than Layer L.
Layer D is older than Layer A.
Layer L is younger than Layer A.
Arches National Park has several geologic formations like the one in the picture. How do these rock formations provide evidence that Earth has changed over time?
Gravity was different long ago allowing these rock formations to form.
Earth is the only planet that can create huge geologic structures like these.
Weathering and erosion have changed rocks into unique shapes.
In 1988, Alfred found several trilobite fossils at a location in Ethiopia. As we discussed, its hard to determine the exact age of a fossil, so Alfred used radioactive dating to figure out the age of igneous rocks that had formed slightly above where the fossil was found.
Why would Alfred decide to use radioactive dating to figure out the age of the igneous rock?
The rate that the radioactive isotope decays in the rock lets him calculate the age of the rock.
This method tells him that the rock layers above the fossil are younger and those below the fossil are older.
Alfred can measure the isotopes in the fossil to calculate its age.
Put the sedimentary rock layers, igneous intrusion, and erosion in the correct order from oldest to youngest.
P, K, M, S, X, B, J, R, A
P, K, M, S, X, R, A, B, J
J, B, X, S, M, R, A, K, P
J, B, A, R, X, S, M, K, P
300 million year old Brachiopod fossils have been found in Indiana. Indiana is a state in the middle of the U.S. shown in red on the map. Brachiopods are marine organisms that lived in oceans. What do these fossils tell us about the environment in Indiana 300 million years ago?
Brachiopod fossils tell us that Indiana is 300 million years old.
Brachiopod fossils found on land tell us that Indiana used to be under the ocean.
Brachiopods live in Indiana today because the environment has never changed.
Brachiopod fossils take 300 million years to form.
The picture shows a geologic formation in Tanzania made of sedimentary rocks. Which of the following statements describes the history of this rock formation?
Both rock layers were weathered and eroded. Then, the darker brown rock layer was deposited. Finally, the tan rock layer was deposited.
The darker brown rock layer was deposited. Then, the tan rock layer was deposited. Finally, both rock layers were weathered and eroded.
The tan rock layer was deposited. Then, the darker brown rock layer was deposited. Finally, both rock layers were weathered and eroded.
The picture above shows some of the evidence Alfred Wegener found while studying fossils on different continents. He noticed there were matching plant and animal fossils on continents that are now separated by large oceans. How does this provide evidence of Earth evolving over time?
Fossils record how organisms have changed over time.
Fossils of the same organism and the same age are only ever found on one continent, proving the continents have always been separated.
Matching fossils can be found on continents that are not connected, showing those continents were once together.
