Fossil Record

Question 1

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

Answer 1

uniformitarianism

Question 2

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

Answer 2

catastrophism

Question 3

the branch of science concerned with fossil animals and plants.

Answer 3

paleontology

Question 4

Relative dating is the process of determining if one rock or geologic event is older or younger than another, without knowing their specific age, how many years ago the object was formed.

Answer 4

relative dating

Question 5

Absolute dating methods measure the physical properties of an object itself and use these measurements to calculate its age

Answer 5

absolute dating

Question 6

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

Answer 6

superposition

Question 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.

Answer 7

isotope

Question 8

the process in which a radioactive atom spontaneously gives off radiation in the form of energy or particles to reach a more stable state.

Answer 8

radioactive decay

Question 9

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

Answer 9

half-life

Question 10

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

Answer 10

fossil

Question 11

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

Answer 11

trace fossil

Question 12

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

Answer 12

mold

Question 13

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

Answer 13

cast

Question 14

a surface of contact between two groups of unconformable strata.

Answer 14

unconformity

Question 15

An extinction event is a widespread and rapid decrease in the biodiversity on Earth.

Answer 15

mass extinction

Question 16

The Jurassic Period was a golden time for dinosaurs, which flourished for 180 million years.

Answer 16

Jurassic Period

Question 17

The Cretaceous is defined as the period between 145.5 and 65.5 million years ago. Duck billed dinosaur.

Answer 17

Cretaceous Period

Question 18

sharks, bony fishes and ammonoids were the dominant animals. 60.3 million years from the end of the Silurian

Answer 18

Devonian period

Question 19

which began only 2.58 million years ago. mammals, flowering plants, and insects dominated the land.

Answer 19

Quaternary period

Question 20

During the Permian Period, Earth’s crustal plates formed a single, massive continent called Pangaea, tyrannosaurs, both herbivores and carnivores.

Answer 20

Permian period