fossil record Flashcards
uniformitarianism
theory that changes in the earth’s crust during geological history have resulted from the action of continuous and uniform processes.
catastrophism
theory that changes in the earth’s crust during geological history have resulted chiefly from sudden violent and unusual events.
paleontology
branch of science concerned with fossil animals and plants.
relative dating
used to arrange geological events, and the rocks they leave behind, in a sequence.
Absolute dating
process of determining an age on a specified chronology in archaeology and geology.
superposition
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
process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by radiation.
half-life
the time taken for the radioactivity of a specified isotope to fall to half its original value.
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
the imprint left by the shell on the rock that surrounded it.
cast
preserve a three-dimensional impression of remains buried in sediment.
unconformity
a boundary between rocks
mass extinction
a widespread and rapid decrease in the biodiversity on Earth.
