Science Chapter 3 Vocab

Question 1

A principle that states that geologic processes that occurred in the past can be explained by current geologic processes.

Answer 1

Uniformitarianism

Question 2

A principle that states that geologic change occurs suddenly.

Answer 2

Catastrophism

Question 3

The science involved with the study of past life.

Answer 3

Paleontology

Question 4

Any method of determining whether an event or object is younger than other events or objects.

Answer 4

Relative Dating

Question 5

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

Answer 5

Superposition

Question 6

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

Answer 6

Geologic Column

Question 7

Any method of measuring the age of an event or object in years.

Answer 7

Absolute Dating

Question 8

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).

Answer 8

Isotope

Question 9

The process in which a radioactive isotope tends to break down into a stable isotope of the same element or another element.

Answer 9

Radioactive Decay

Question 10

A method of determining the age of an object by estimating the relative percentages of a radioactive (parent) isotope and a stable (daughter) isotope.

Answer 10

Radiometric Dating

Question 11

The time needed for half of a sample of a radioactive substance to undergo radioactive decay.

Answer 11

Half-life

Question 12

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

Answer 12

Unconformity

Question 13

A book written by James Hutton about his theory of uniformitarianism.

Answer 13

Theory of the Earth

Question 14

A rare sudden event on the Earth.

Answer 14

Catastrophes

Question 15

A book written by Charles Lyell in which he reintroduced the theory of uniformitarianism.

Answer 15

Principles of Geology

Question 16

Scientists who study past life.

Answer 16

Paleontologists

Question 17

A break in the Earth’s crust along which blocks of the crust slide relative to one another.

Answer 17

Fault

Question 18

Molten rock from the Earth’s interior that squeezes into existing rock and cools.

Answer 18

Intrusion

Question 19

When rock layers bend and buckle from Earth’s internal forces.

Answer 19

Folding

Question 20

When internal forces in the Earth slant rock layers.

Answer 20

Tilting

Question 21

The stoppage of deposition when a supply of sediment is cut off.

Answer 21

Nondeposition

Question 22

When sediment is removed from its source.

Answer 22

Erosion

Question 23

Exists where part of a sequence of parallel rock layers is missing.

Answer 23

Disconformity

Question 24

Exists where sedimentary rock layers lie on top of an eroded surface of non layered igneous or metamorphic rock.

Answer 24

Noncomformity

Question 25

Exists between horizontal rock layers and rock layers that are tilted or folded.

Answer 25

Angular Unconformity

Question 26

What unstable isotopes are called.

Answer 26

Radioactive

Question 27

An unstable isotope.

Answer 27

Parent Isotope

Question 28

A stable isotope.

Answer 28

Daughter Isotope

Question 29

A break in the Earth’s crust along which blocks of the crust slide relative to one another.

Answer 29

Fault

Question 30

Molten rock from the Earth’s interior that squeezes into existing rock and cools.

Answer 30

Intrusion