Fossil Record

Question 1

A principle that states that geologic processes that occurs in the past can be explained by current geologic processes.

Answer 1

Uniformitarianism

Question 2

A principle that states geologic change occurs suddenly.

Answer 2

Catastrophism

Question 3

The scientific study of fossils.

Answer 3

Paleontology

Question 4

Any method of determining whether an event or object is older or younger than other events or objects.

Answer 4

Relative Dating

Question 5

Any method of measuring the age of an event or object in years.

Answer 5

Absolute Dating

Question 6

A principle that states that younger rocks lie above older rocks if the layers have not been disturbed.

Answer 6

Superposition

Question 7

An atom that has the same number of protons (or the same atomic number) as other atoms of the same element do but that has a different number or neutrons (and thus a different atomic mass)

Answer 7

Isotope

Question 8

The process in which a radioactive isotope tends to break down into a stable isotope of the same element or another element.

Answer 8

Radioactive Decay

Question 9

The time needed for half of a sample of a radioactive substance to undergo radioactive decay.

Answer 9

Half-life

Question 10

The remains or physical evidence of an organism preserved by geological processes.

Answer 10

Fossil

Question 11

A fossilized mark that is formed in soft sediment by the movement of an animal.

Answer 11

Trace Fossil

Question 12

A mark or cavity made in a sedimentary surface by a shell or other body.

Answer 12

Mold

Question 13

A type of fossil that forms when sediments fill in the cavity left by a decomposed organism.

Answer 13

Cast

Question 14

A break in the geologic record created when rock layers are eroded of when sediment is not deposited for a long period of time.

Answer 14

Unconformity

Question 15

An event when species vanish much faster than they are replaced.

Answer 15

Mass Extinction

Question 16

A warm, wet climate that gave rise to lush vegetation and abundant life. 199.6 million to 145.5 million years ago. long-necked and paddle-finned pleasures, giant marine crocodiles, sharks, and rays were all dominant creatures at the time.

Answer 16

Jurassic period

Question 17

The period between 145.5 and 65.5 million years ago, the last period of the Mesozoic Era, following the Jurassic and ending with the extinction of the dinosaurs (except birds).

Answer 17

Cretaceous period

Question 18

An interval of the Paleozoic Era that follows the Silurian Period and precedes the Carboniferous Period, spanning between about 419.2 million and 358.9 million years ago.

Answer 18

Devonian period

Question 19

The third and last of the three periods of the Cenozoic Era.

Answer 19

Quaternary period

Question 20

Lasted from 299 to 251 million years ago and was the last period of the Paleozoic Era.

Answer 20

Permian period