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Earth and Space Science > Geologic Time and Earth's History > Flashcards

Geologic Time and Earth's History Flashcards

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1
Q

Define absolute time.

A

The exact date and/or time that something happened

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2
Q

Define relative time.

A

The time that something happened relative to another day (two years ago, five days after, etc.)

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3
Q

Define uniformitarianism.

A

The theory that the Earth’s processes that are currently occurring have always been occurring throughout the universe

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4
Q

Define unconformity.

A

A gap in the rock record

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5
Q

Define nonconformity.

A

An unconformity between two very different rock types

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6
Q

Define disconformity.

A

A break in the rock record caused by erosion or non-deposition of sediment

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7
Q

Define radioactivity.

A

The act of an unstable atomic nucleus emitting radiation spontaneously

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8
Q

Define half-life.

A

The time that half of the atomic nuclei of a radioactive sample to decay

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9
Q

Define angular unconformity.

A

Tilted or folded sedimentary rocks overlain by more flat lying strata

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10
Q

Define fossil.

A

The remains or impressions of an organism preserved in petrified form as a mold or cast in rock

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11
Q

What are trilobites?

A

An extinct marine arthropod that occurred abundantly during the Paleozoic era

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12
Q

What are ammonites?

A

A group of extinct marine mollusc animals. Closer related to living coleoids than to nautiloids

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13
Q

What are cyanobacteria?

A

Microorganisms related to the bacteria that are capable of photosynthesis

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14
Q

What was Pangaea?

A

A supercontinent that existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras

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15
Q

What is the Paleozoic era?

A

The longest era in the Phanerozoic eon. Lasted from 541 to 251.902 million years ago

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16
Q

What is the Mesozoic era?

A

Also called the Age of Reptiles and the Age of Conifers. The era between the Paleozoic and Cenozoic eras. Lasted from 252 to 66 million years ago

17
Q

What is the Cenozoic era?

A

The current and most recent of the three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic eon. Lasted from 66 million years ago to the current day. Means “new life”

18
Q

Which rocks in a sequence would be the oldest?

A

The rock layer closest to the bottom are older than the ones on top. This is the rule of superposition

19
Q

How old is the Earth?

A

The Earth is estimated to be 4.6 billion years old

20
Q

What principles are used in relative dating?

A

The principles of superposition, original horizontality, original lateral continuity, cross-cutting relationships, unconformities, faunal succession, and inclusions

21
Q

What are the tree types of unconformities?

A
  • Angular: tilted or folded sedimentary rocks overlain by more flat lying strata
  • Nonconformity: an unconformity between two very different rock types
  • Disconformity: break in the rock record caused by erosion or non-deposition of sediment
22
Q

What are the principles of radioactive decay?

A

The parent is the decaying isotope whereas the daughter is the decay product. The loss or gain of a neutron creates a daughter of the same element, a loss or gain of a proton creates a daughter of a new element

23
Q

How is geologic time divided?

A

Geologic time goes epochs, periods, eras, and eons

24
Q

What is the origin of the solar system?

A

The solar system formed about 4.5 billion years ago from a dense cloud of interstellar gas. Through the effects of gravity. The cloud collapsed and a solar nebula was formed

25
Q

What was something that happened in the Precambrian era?

A

The first multi-celled organism appeared, a supercontinent named Robinia was formed, and the first oceans formed

26
Q

What was something that happened in the Paleozoic era?

A

The Cambrian explosion occurred, land plants flourished, and invertebrates invaded the land

27
Q

What was something that happened in the Mesozoic era?

A

The age of dinosaurs, Pangaea broke up, and gymnosperms dominated the land

28
Q

What was something that happened in the Cenozoic era?

A

The age of mammals, angiosperms dominate the land, and humans appear in this era

Earth and Space Science (7 decks)

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