FossIl

Question 1

uniformitarianism

Answer 1

the theory that changes in the earth’s crust during geological history have resulted from the action of continuous and uniform processes.

Question 2

catastrophism

Answer 2

the theory that changes in the earth’s crust during geological history have resulted chiefly from sudden violent and unusual events.

Question 3

paleontology

Answer 3

the branch of science concerned with fossil animals and plants.

Question 4

relative dating

Answer 4

the process of determining if one rock or geologic event is older or younger than another

Question 5

absolute dating

Answer 5

the process of determining an age on a specified chronology in archaeology and geology

Question 6

superposition

Answer 6

the ability of a quantum system to be in multiple states at the same time until it is measured.

Question 7

isotope

Answer 7

each of two or more forms of the same element that contain equal numbers of protons but different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei, and hence differ in relative atomic mass but not in chemical properties; in particular, a radioactive form of an element.

Question 8

radioactive decay

Answer 8

the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by radiation.

Question 9

half-life

Answer 9

the time taken for the radioactivity of a specified isotope to fall to half its original value.

Question 10

fossil

Answer 10

the remains or impression of a prehistoric organism preserved in petrified form or as a mold or cast in rock.

Question 11

trace fossil

Answer 11

a fossil of a footprint, trail, burrow, or other trace of an animal rather than of the animal itself.

Question 12

mold

Answer 12

a hollow container used to give shape to molten or hot liquid material (such as wax or metal) when it cools and hardens

Question 13

cast

Answer 13

cause (light or shadow) to appear on a surface.

Question 14

unconformity

Answer 14

a surface of contact between two groups of unconformable strata

Question 15

mass extinction

Answer 15

when species vanish much faster than they are replaced.

Question 16

Jurassic period

Answer 16

201.3 million years ago to the beginning of the Cretaceous Period, approximately 145 Mya

Question 17

Cretaceous period

Answer 17

s a geological period that lasted from about 145 to 66 million years ago. It is the third and final period of the Mesozoic Era, as well as the longest. At around 79 million years, it is the longest geological period of the entire Phanerozoic.

Question 18

Devonian period

Answer 18

spanning 60.3 million years from the end of the Silurian, 419.2 million years ago, to the beginning of the Carboniferous, 358.9 Mya. It is named after Devon,

Question 19

Quaternary period

Answer 19

began 2.6 million years ago and extends into the present.

Question 20

Permian period

Answer 20

The Permian is a geologic period and stratigraphic system which spans 47 million years from the end of the Carboniferous Period 298.9 million years ago