Law of Superposition

Law of Superposition

​A geologic principle used to determine the relative ages of rock layers.

Hotspot

What rock layer is the oldest?

Multiple Choice

What type of rock do fossils form in?

(*hint* which rock type have we been studying?)

• Igneous

• Sedimentary

• Metamorphic

Multiple Choice

According to the law of superposition, the oldest fossils are found...

• At the top of the rock layers

• Near the bottom of the rock layers

• In the middle of the rock layers

• Somewhat near the surface

Multiple Choice

Which of the following correctly lists the layers in order from youngest to oldest?

• A, B, C, D, E

• E, C, D, A, B

• E, D, C, B, A

Multiple Choice

According to the law of superposition, which layer is the youngest?

• A
• B
• C

Multiple Choice

The diagram shows rock layers next to a road. Layer 3 contains many plant fossils. Layer 3 most likely formed in which type of environment?

• ocean

• forest

• tundra

• desert

Multiple Choice

Why is it important to study fossils?

• Fossils are evidence of organisms that lived long ago.

• Fossils are fortune tellers.

• Fossils are fun to study.

• Fossils are found everywhere in the world.

Multiple Choice

How do most fossils form?

• A living thing dies and is buried under sediment

• The sediment is compressed and compacted

• They are formed in sedimentary rock

• All of these answers

Multiple Choice

Fossil #1 is found 700ft under ground and fossil #2 is found 300ft under ground, which is newer?

• Fossil #1

• Fossil #2

• Both Fossils are the same age

Audio Response

Which layer is the oldest?

Explain how you know that layer is the oldest.

(Sentence stem: I know layer __ is the oldest because___)

Open Audio Recorder

Audio Response

Which layer is the youngest?

Explain how you know that layer is the youngest.

(Sentence stem: I know layer __ is the youngest because___)

Open Audio Recorder

Open Ended

Which fossil is older trilobite fossil or ammonite fossil?

(Sentence stem: ____ fossil is older because _____)

Multiple Choice

All of these fossils are examples of marine organisms.

What MOST likely was this environment like in the past?

• Desert

• Ocean

• Forest

Reorder

Observe the image of the layers.

Put the layer numbers in order from

OLDEST to NEWEST.

• 5

• 4

• 3

• 2

• 1

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5