ESS Fall Final Review

Front

What is a parent isotope?

Back

A parent isotope is a radioactive isotope that undergoes decay to form a daughter isotope.

Front

What is a daughter isotope?

Back

A daughter isotope is the product of the decay of a parent isotope.

Front

What does half-life mean?

Back

Half-life is the length of time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay.

Front

How many half-lives have occurred if there are equal amounts of parent and daughter isotopes?

Back

1 half-life has occurred.

Front

What type of rock contains only parent isotopes?

Back

A newly cooled igneous rock contains only parent isotopes.

Front

What is absolute dating?

Back

Absolute dating is a method used to determine the exact age of a rock or fossil in years.

Front

What is relative dating?

Back

Relative dating is a method used to determine the age of rocks or fossils in relation to one another.

Front

What is the significance of the San Andreas Fault?

Back

The San Andreas Fault is a major transform boundary between the Pacific and North American tectonic plates.

Front

What is an example of a convergent boundary?

Back

The Peru-Chile Trench and the Andes Mountains are examples of a convergent boundary.

Front

What is the difference between absolute age and relative age?

Back

Absolute age provides a specific age in years, while relative age indicates which rock is older without providing a specific date.