Geologic History

Scientists can use the following to interpret geologic history (select all that apply):

• Rock layers

• Dinosaur footprints

• Ocean water

• Fossils of Mesosaurus being found in both Africa and S. America

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

The principle of uniformitarianism

• states that the present is the key to the past

• states that the past is key to learning about the present

• geologic processes we see today were also at work in the past

• rock layers are uniform in size and age

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS3-1

Organisms are more likely to be fossilized if (select all that apply)

• contain no hard parts

• contain hard parts

• buried slowly

• buried quickly

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

True or false: if volcanic rock was found later in the rock record but rarely in the past, that would indicate more activity in the past than currently.

• True

• False

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

True or False: The disappearance of organisms from the geologic record could provide evidence of periods of mass extinction

• True

• False

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Select all that are correct statements.

• Precambrian fossils are common

• Precambrian fossils are rare

• Phanerozoic eon had biological diversity

• The time scale is only divided into periods and eras

• The appearance/disappearance of organisms separates geological time

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

In order from largest to smallest, the geologic time scale is divided into eons, ______, _______, and epochs.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Which of the following are true of relative dating (select all that apply):

• Comparing the ages of rocks

• Measures radioactive decay of element isotopes

• Rocks in lower layers are older than those in higher layers

• Gives a numerical age

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Which of the following are true of absolute dating (select all that apply):

• Comparing the ages of rocks

• Measures radioactive decay of element isotopes

• Rocks in lower layers are older than those in higher layers

• Gives a numerical age

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Earth is about _____ billion years old.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4