Fossils and Geologic Time

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What is a fossil?

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A fossil is the preserved remains or traces of an organism that lived in the past.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

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What does it mean when an organism is described as extinct?

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An organism that no longer exists on Earth is called extinct.

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How old do scientists believe the Earth is?

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Scientists believe the Earth is approximately 4.6 billion years old.

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What is the geologic time scale?

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The geologic time scale is a system of chronological dating that relates geological strata to time.

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Which type of rock is most likely to contain fossils?

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Sedimentary rock is most likely to contain fossils because it forms from the accumulation of sediment.

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What conditions are necessary for fossilization?

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Fossilization is more likely to occur if an organism is buried quickly with sediment and has hard parts like bones or shells.

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What is the significance of the Law of Superposition?

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The Law of Superposition states that in undisturbed layers of rock, the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest are at the top.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

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What are trace fossils?

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Trace fossils are not remains of the organism itself but rather evidence of its activity, such as footprints or burrows.

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What is a paleontologist?

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A paleontologist is a scientist who studies fossils to understand the history of life on Earth.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

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What is the difference between relative dating and absolute dating?

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Relative dating determines the age of fossils based on their position in rock layers, while absolute dating provides a specific age using methods like radiometric dating.