Reading the Rock Strata

______________ 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

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

What kind of rock does absolute dating work for?

• igneous

• metamorphic

• sedimentary

• thickly layered

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

• eroded

• weathered

• igneous

• undisturbed

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

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

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

What can cause rock layers to fold?

• gravity

• braces

• volcanic eruptions

• tectonic forces

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

• superposition; consecutive

• lateral continuity; vertical

• original horizontality; horizontal

• cross-cutting relationships; random

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

• . igneous

• sedimentary

• they are the same age

• there is no way to tell

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

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 superposition

• principle of lateral continuity

• principle of original horizontality

• law of cross-cutting relationships