According to the principle of ____________, rock layers form in ________ layers due to gravity.

original horizontality; horizontal

cross-cutting relationships; random

What is the name of the law that states that a rock feature cutting across another rock feature is the younger of the two rocks?

law of cross-cutting relationships

principle of lateral continuity

principle of original horizontality

the preserved remains of organisms

rocks in the shape of ancient organisms

Why are index fossils important?

They are useful for relative dating of rock strata.

They indicate where to look for other fossils.

They allow for absolute dating of rock strata.

Igneous rocks contain radioactive atoms, so as the rock gets older __________.

more radioactive atoms accumulate

it becomes dangerously radioactive

Rock A has 50% of its uranium atoms remaining, and Rock B has 20% of its uranium atoms remaining. Which rock is older?

It is impossible to tell from this information.

A 3 million-year-old igneous layer lies below a sedimentary layer that lies below a 2 million-year-old index fossil. How old is the sedimentary layer?

between 2 and 3 million years old

younger than 2 million years old

It is impossible to tell from this information.

Below is an video of the Grand Canyon along the Colorado River in Northern Arizona. Note the different layers, which are known as strata. They give geologists insight into events in the geologic history of an area. Study the video below. Based on the law of superposition, which statement BEST describes the differences between the lower and upper sedimentary strata?

The lower sedimentary layers are older than the upper layers.

The lower sedimentary layers are softer than the upper layers.

The lower sedimentary layers are harder than the upper layers.

The lower sedimentary layers are younger than the upper layers.

During a hike in the mountains, Jenai notices several layers of rock within a cliff. She notes two layers of igneous rock on top of one another. Jenai thinks that the top layer is younger than the bottom layer. Later, radiometric dating analysis was done on these rocks. The results confirmed her hypothesis. How were these two methods used to date the rock layers?

Jenai used a relative dating method; the laboratory used an absolute dating method.

Both methods are types of relative dating methods.

Both methods are types of absolute dating methods.

Jenai used an absolute dating method; the laboratory used a relative dating method.

The San Juan River meanders through part of Utah. Over the years, it has weathered away rocks to form a valley in Goosenecks State Park and has exposed a variety of rock layers. What prediction can be made about the layers highlighted below?

The highlighted rock layers are the same geologic age.

The highlighted rock layers are made of different material.

The highlighted rock layers have been weathered to look the same.

The highlighted rock layers have been exposed for about the same amount of time.

Suppose you are walking along a path and come across the geologic formation shown in the photo. You know that the rock in the middle is igneous rock, and the layers on either side of it are sedimentary. What can you explain about the age of these rocks using the law of cross-cutting relationships?

The igneous rock is younger than the sedimentary.

The igneous rock cracked the sedimentary.

The igneous rock is older than the sedimentary.

The igneous rock is the same approximate age as the sedimentary.

Suppose a paleontologist is at a construction site in Kentucky. While digging in a mudstone layer, she found a trilobite fossil in the rock layer that was the same species of trilobite found in a mudstone layer in Ohio. However, she found this trilobite two rock layers deeper than the mudstone found in Ohio. What conclusion should she reach about the ages of the two rock layers?

The rock layer at the Kentucky site is the same age as the rock layer in Ohio.

The rock layer at the Kentucky site is older than the one in Ohio.

The trilobite at the Kentucky site is a different species than the one in Ohio.

The trilobite at the Kentucky site is a much older species of trilobite then the one in Ohio.

The Grand Canyon is very weathered and eroded. It allows scientists to get a good idea of the history of the formation of the United States. Geologists will often make sketches of the different layers to help model the Grand Canyon and surrounding areas. Below is a sketch of several of the common layers found in the Grand Canyon. Which of the following statements BEST explains the relationship between the Redwall and Bright Angel layers?

The Bright Angel layer is older than the Redwall layer.

The Redwall layer is older than the Bright Angel layer.

The Redwall layer is approximately the same age as the Bright Angel layer.

They Redwall layer was exposed at the same time as the Bright Angel layer.

Note the Coconino layer, the third layer down from the surface of the Grand Canyon. Suppose that at a second site further north along the river, the Coconino layer was only one layer down from the surface. Which conclusion can scientists reach about the Coconino layer?

The Coconino layer is the same age at both sites.

The Coconino layer is older at the second site.

The Coconino layer is younger at the second site.

The Coconino layer at one of the sites formed at a different depth.

Notice the Grand Canyon Supergroup near the bottom. The Supergroup, like the other layers, is made up of sedimentary rocks, but it cuts through part of the Tapeats layer. Based on its position and the principle of original horizontality, what explanation might geologists give for this finding

The Supergroup is older than the Tapeats layer, but it was pushed up due to tectonic events.

The Supergroup is younger than the Tapeats layer, but it sank down due to gravity.

The Supergroup formed afterward and pushed its way through faults in the Tapeats layer.

The Supergroup was formed at the same time as the Tapeats layer, but formed at an angle.

Reading the Rock Strata

Authored by Charles Martinez

Science

7th Grade

NGSS covered

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30 questions

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MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

______________ determines the age of a rock by comparing it to the rocks around it.

Relative dating

Absolute dating

Dependent dating

Independent dating

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Rock layers below are __________ rock layers above.

younger than

older than

the same age as

either older or younger than

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What kind of rock does absolute dating work for?

igneous

metamorphic

sedimentary

thickly layered

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

For the law of superposition to hold true, the layers of rock must be _____________.

eroded

weathered

igneous

undisturbed

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Why is the Grand Canyon a good place to study rock layers?

It is older than any other location.

It is undisturbed by erosion or weathering.

Lots of layers have been uncovered by river erosion.

Volcanoes have laid down many layers of igneous rock that can be absolutely dated

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

It is reasonable to guess that rock layers on either side of a gap are the same age because of the principle of ___________.

superposition

lateral continuity

original horizontality

cross-cutting relationships

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What can cause rock layers to fold?

gravity

braces

volcanic eruptions

tectonic forces

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Reading the Rock Strata

______________ determines the age of a rock by comparing it to the rocks around it.

Rock layers below are __________ rock layers above.

What kind of rock does absolute dating work for?

For the law of superposition to hold true, the layers of rock must be _____________.

Why is the Grand Canyon a good place to study rock layers?

It is reasonable to guess that rock layers on either side of a gap are the same age because of the principle of ___________.

What can cause rock layers to fold?

According to the principle of ____, rock layers form in layers due to gravity.

If an igneous rock cuts a sedimentary rock in half vertically, which rock is older?

What is the name of the law that states that a rock feature cutting across another rock feature is the younger of the two rocks?

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