Fossil Record

Question 1

uniformitarianism

Answer 1

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

Question 2

catastrophism

Answer 2

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

Question 3

paleontology

Answer 3

the branch of science concerned with fossil animals and plants

Question 4

relative dating

Answer 4

Relative dating is used to arrange geological events, and the rocks they leave behind, in a sequence

Question 5

absolute dating

Answer 5

Absolute dating is the process of determining an age on a specified chronology in archaeology and geology

Question 6

superposition

Answer 6

The act of superposing or the state of being superposed: Yet another technique in the forensic specialist’s repertoire is photo superposition

Question 7

isotope

Answer 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

Question 8

radioactive decay

Answer 8

l’ll so known as nuclear decay, radioactivity or nuclear radiation) is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy

Question 9

half-life

Answer 9

the time required for any specified property (e.g., the concentration of a substance in the body) to decrease by half

Question 10

fossil

Answer 10

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

Question 11

trace fossil

Answer 11

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

Question 12

mold

Answer 12

s a fungus that grows in the form of multicellular filaments called hyphae

Question 13

cast

Answer 13

throw (something) forcefully in a specified direction

Question 14

unconformity

Answer 14

a surface of contact between two groups of unconformable strata

Question 15

mass extinction

Answer 15

also known as a mass extinction or biotic crisis) is a widespread and rapid decrease in the biodiversity on Earth

Question 16

Jurassic period

Answer 16

was a geologic period and system that spanned 56 million years from the end of the Triassic Period 201.3 million years ago

Question 17

Cretaceous period

Answer 17

The Cretaceous Period was the last and longest segment of the Mesozoic Era

Question 18

Devonian period

Answer 18

The Devonian is a geologic period and system of the Paleozoic, spanning 60 million years from the end of the Silurian

Question 19

Quaternary period

Answer 19

The Quaternary Period is divided into two epochs: the Pleistocene 2.588 million years ago to 11.7 thousand years ago

Question 20

Permian period

Answer 20

The Permian is a geologic period and system which spans 47 million years from the end of the Carboniferous Period 298.9 million years ago