fossil record Flashcards
uniformitarianism
the changes in the earths crust are from a uniform process
catastrophism
the changes in the earths crust are from sudden events
paleontology
the study of fossils
relative dating
determining if a rock is a certain age without actually knowing
absolute dating
measuring the physical properties of an object
superposition
the ability of a quantum system in multiple states
isotope
an element that contains the same amount of protons but different amount of nutrons
radioactive decay
the process where an atom gives off unstable radiation
half-life
the time it takes for half of the parent isotopes to become the daughter isotopes
fossil
the impression of an organisms skeleton
trace fossil
a fossil of a footprint
mold
a fungus used in the process of fossilization
cast
the imprint left of a footprint
unconformity
the contact between two groups of strata
mass extinction
when a species dies before it can reproduce
