EARTH’S HISTORY AND TIME

Question 1

“Present is the key to the past” – whatever processes are occurring today also occurred in the past and probably at the same rates

Answer 1

Uniformitarianism

Question 2

How do geologists determine how old rocks are?

Answer 2

Relative and Absolute Dating

Question 3

It determines whether the rock is older or younger than other rocks

Answer 3

Relative Dating

Question 4

It uses radiometric dating techniques to determine how long ago the rock formed in the exact number of years

Answer 4

Absolute Dating

Question 5

4 Principles associated with dating

Answer 5

Law of Original Horizontality, Law of Superposition, Principle of Crosscutting Relations, and Idea of Unconformities

Question 6

Sedimentary rocks are originally formed in horizontal layers

Answer 6

Law of Orginal Horizontality

Question 7

The oldest layer of rock will be at the bottom, youngest at the top

Answer 7

Law of Superposition

Question 8

Any rock or fault cuts across is younger than those it cuts across

Answer 8

Principle of Crosscutting Relations

Question 9

It is the surfaces of erosion that separate younger rocks from older ones.

Answer 9

Idea of Unconformities