Geology Quiz

What is the difference between absolute and relative dating?

• Absolute dating determines the actual age of a rock or fossil; relative dating determines which rock or fossil came first.

• Absolute dating determines which rock or fossil came first; relative dating determines the actual age of a rock or fossil.

• Absolute dating uses the law of superposition; relative dating uses radioactive decay.

• Absolute dating is based on physical weathering; relative dating is based on chemical weathering.

What is the law of uniformitarianism?

• The principle that the oldest layer of rock is at the bottom.

• The idea that geological events observed today happened the same way in the past.

• The process of physical weathering and erosion.

• The concept of radioactive decay in dating rocks.

Which type of weathering involves no change in composition?

What is the law of superposition?

• The principle that the oldest layer of rock is at the bottom.

• The idea that geological events observed today happened the same way in the past.

• The process of physical weathering and erosion.

• The concept of radioactive decay in dating rocks.

What is the process of oxidation in chemical weathering?

• The formation of rust in air or water.

• The transportation of sediments.

• The dropping off of weathered sediments.

• The physical breaking down of rocks.

What are the different layers of the earth?

What is a rift valley?

• A valley formed by the separation of tectonic plates.

• A valley formed by the collision of tectonic plates.

• A valley formed by the subduction of tectonic plates.

• A valley formed by the transformation of tectonic plates.

What is a convergent boundary?

• A boundary where tectonic plates move towards each other.

• A boundary where tectonic plates move away from each other.

• A boundary where tectonic plates slide past each other.

• A boundary where tectonic plates remain stationary.

What is a divergent boundary?

• A boundary where tectonic plates move away from each other.

• A boundary where tectonic plates move towards each other.

• A boundary where tectonic plates slide past each other.

• A boundary where tectonic plates remain stationary.

What are subduction zones?

• where the cold oceanic lithosphere sinks back into the mantle and is recycled

• a recycling of core's hot energy

• The area where volcanos are created

•  process by which one lithospheric plate moves beneath another in one area