Fossil Fuel Flashcards
Unitarianism
the theory that changes in the earth’s crust during geological history have resulted from the action of continuous and uniform processes.
catastrophism
the theory that changes in the earth’s crust during geological history have resulted chiefly from sudden violent and unusual events.
paleontology
Paleontology is the scientific study of life in the geologic past, based on examination of fossilized remains of once living organisms, such as tracks, bones, teeth, plants, and shells.
relative dating
Relative dating is the process of determining if one rock or geologic event is older or younger than another, without knowing their specific ages
absolute dating
Absolute dating methods measure the physical properties of an object itself and use these measurements to calculate its age.
superposition
Superposition is the ability of a quantum system to be in multiple states at the same time until it is measured.
isotope
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.
radioactive decay
Radioactive decay is the process in which a radioactive atom spontaneously gives off radiation in the form of energy or particles to reach a more stable state.
half-life
The time required for a biological system, such as that of a human, to eliminate, by natural processes, half of the amount of a substance (such as a radioactive material) that has entered it.
fossil
the remains or impression of a prehistoric organism preserved in petrified form or as a mold or cast in rock.
trace fossil
a fossil of a footprint, trail, burrow, or other trace of an animal rather than of the animal itself.
mold
a hollow container used to give shape to molten or hot liquid material (such as wax or metal) when it cools and hardens.
cast
cause (light or shadow) to appear on a surface.
unconformity
a surface of contact between two groups of unconformable strata.
Mass Extinction
An extinction event is a widespread and rapid decrease in the biodiversity on Earth. Such an event is identified by a sharp change in the diversity and abundance of multicellular organisms
Proterozoic
The Proterozoic is a geological eon spanning the time interval from 2500 to 538.8 million years ago.
Silurian
The Silurian is a geologic period and system spanning 24.6 million years from the end of the Ordovician Period, at 443.8 million years ago
Devonian Period
The Devonian is a geologic period and system of the Paleozoic, spanning 60.3 million years from the end of the Silurian, 419.2 million years ago
Quaternary Period
The Quaternary Period is the third and last of the three periods of the Cenozoic Era.
Permain Period
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, to the beginning of the Triassic Period 251.9 Mya.
