Relative Dating Quiz

The relative age of a rock is

• its age compared to the ages of other rocks
• less than the age of the fossils the rock contains
• the number of years since the rock formed
• its age based on how much carbon-14 the rock contains

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

The law of superposition states that, in horizonal layers of sedimentary rock, each layer is

• oldest at the bottom and youngest at the top
• the same age as one another
• oldest at the top and youngest at the bottom
• always older than any vertical layers

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

The fossils or organisms that were widely distributed but only lived during a short period of time are called

• index fossil
• petrified fossils
• trace fossils
• carbon film fossils

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Why are index fossils useful to geologists?

• they tell the relative age of the rock in which they occur
• they tell the absolute age of the rock in which they occur
• they tell the ages of many different rock layers
• they tell the age of the rock at one location only

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

What is the age of an intrusion of igneous rock in relation to the sedimentary rock layers through which it passes?

• always younger
• always older
• the same age as the other rock layers
• sometimes younger, somethings

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Which sedimentary rock layer is older A or B? Explain your answer and name the scientific law that you applied to reach your conclusion?

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

List the layers E, D, G, C  in order from oldest to youngest?

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

How do rock layers B and D compare in age? If rock layers between B and D eroded  away, what is the boundary between B and D called?

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Layer F is an Igneous extrusion. How can scientist use layer F to infer the age of layer A?

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

G began as magma that hardened underground to from igneous rock.  What is the age of G in relation to C? what term applies to bodies of rock such as G?

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4