Earth History Vocabulary

Front

Pangea

Back

A proposed huge ancient landmass that once existed.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Front

Geologic time scale

Back

Earth's history, divided based upon major events or changes over time.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Front

Absolute age

Back

The actual age of an event or object.

Front

Continental drift

Back

The hypothesis that Earth's continents were once joined in a single landmass and gradually moved apart.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Front

Law of superposition

Back

Sedimentary layers are deposited in order, with the oldest on the bottom and the youngest on the top.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Front

Igneous rock

Back

Rock formed from magma or lava that has cooled.

Front

Tectonic plates

Back

Large and small slabs of rock that make up pieces of the lithosphere.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Front

Relative age

Back

The age of an event when compared to other events (older, younger, etc.).

Front

Sedimentary rock

Back

Rock formed from the compaction and cementation of weathered or eroded materials.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

Front

Index fossils

Back

These are used to help determine the age of rock layers; they are common, lived in many areas, and existed only during a specific time.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3