Geologic Time and Relative Dating

Trilobites can be found in both rocky places and marine areas on Earth, even though they are marine animals. How can we use trilobites fossils to show that changes have occurred over time?

• Trilobite fossils are in both rocky and marine areas proving that Earth has changed by natural processes.

• Trilobites actually show that nothing ever changes

• Natural processes no longer occur so trilobites show nothing

• Trilobites are compressed so much by natural processes that they only show in marine places

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Scientists have discovered a dinosaur bone in Russia. They decided to use radioactive dating on the surrounding igneous rock to determine exact age. Why would they use this technique?

• It is easier and cheaper than other techniques

• It is the only technique that can tell you where the sample was

• It is the only technique that can give an approximate age.

  Law of superposition only tells part of the story

• It is the only technique used to compare fossils to plate boundary events

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Look at the reference image. How can we use this image to show that Earth changed over time.

• All the dinosaurs had the same DNA

• None of the dinosaurs ever moved from their main country

• Fossils of the same type of organism can be found on continents that are not connected, showing that all continents were once together.

• Life... uhhh... finds a way...

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Determining whether an object or event is older or younger than other objects or events is called _____________.

• fossil

• geologic column

• relative dating

• super position

• unconformity

The Law of Superposition helps scientists to determine what?

• The absolute age of rock layers

• The age of fossils

• The relative age of rock layers

• the super powers of rocks

Which rock layer in the diagram seems to be the oldest?

• F

• E

• B

• A

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

According to the law of superposition, the oldest fossils are found 

• At the top of the rock layers

• Near the bottom of the rock layers

• In the middle of the rock layers

• Somewhat near the surface

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Which rock layer contains the newest fossils?

• F

• E

• B

• C

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Which law of geology tells you that layer A is older than layer B?

• law of horizontality

• law of really old dirt

• ice wedging

• law of superposition

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

_____________ are the trace or remains of an organism that lived long ago.

• climate

• Fossils

• Ice core

• Trace fossil

• Uniformitarianism

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2