fossils

Question 1

uniformitarianism

Answer 1

a principle that states that states that geologic processes that occurred in the past can be explained by current geologic process

Question 2

catastrophism

Answer 2

a principle that states that geologic change occurs suddenly

Question 3

paleontology

Answer 3

the scientific study of fossils

Question 4

relative dating

Answer 4

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

Question 5

superposition

Answer 5

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

Question 6

geologic column

Answer 6

an arrangement of rock layers in which the oldest rocks are at the bottom

Question 7

unconformity

Answer 7

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

Question 8

absolute dating

Answer 8

any method of measuring the age of an event or object in years

Question 9

isotope

Answer 9

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 of neutrons (and thus a different atomic mass