FOSSIL RECORD

Question 1

What is uniformitarianism?

Answer 1

Uniformitarianism is a principle that states that geologic processes that occurred in the past can be explained by current geologic processes.

Question 2

What is catastrophism?

Answer 2

Catastrophism is a principle that states that geologic change occurs suddenly.

Question 3

What is paleontology?

Answer 3

Paleontology is the scientific study of fossils.

Question 4

What is relative dating?

Answer 4

Relative dating is any method of determining whether an event or object is older than the other events or objects.

Question 5

What is superposition?

Answer 5

Superposition is a principle that states that younger rocks lie above older rocks if layers have not been disturbed.

Question 6

What is an isotope?

Answer 6

An isotope is an atom that has the same number of protons (or the same atomic number) as other atoms of the same element do, but has a different number of neutrons (and thus a different atomic mass).

Question 7

What is radioactive decay?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

What is the half-life of an object?

Answer 8

The half-life of an object is the time needed for half of a sample of a radioactive substance to undergo radioactive decay.

Question 9

What is a fossil?

Answer 9

A fossil is the remains or physical evidence of an organism preserved by geological processes.

Question 10

What is a trace fossil?

Answer 10

A trace fossil is a fossilized mark that is formed in soft sediment by the movement of an animal.

Question 11

What is a mold?

Answer 11

a mold is a mark or cavity made in a sedimentary surface by a shell or other body.

Question 12

What is a cast?

Answer 12

A cast is a type of fossil that forms when sediments fill in the cavity left by a decomposed organism.

Question 13

What is unconformity?

Answer 13

Unconformity is 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 14

What is a mass extinction?

Answer 14

A mass extinction is the death of every member of a species.

Question 15

What is absolute dating?

Answer 15

Absolute dating is any method of measuring the age of an event or object in years.

Question 16

What was the Jurassic period?

Answer 16

The Jurassic Period is a division of the Mesozoic era, which happened 144 million years ago.

Question 17

What was the Cretaceous period?

Answer 17

The Cretaceous period is a division of the Mesozoic era, which happened 65 million years ago. This is around when the tyrant lizards got nerfed by a giant rock.

Question 18

What was the Devonian period?

Answer 18

The Devonian period is a division of the Paleozoic era, which happened around 354 million years ago. Lots of new fish species arose during this time.

Question 19

What was the Quaternary period?

Answer 19

The Quaternary period is a division of the Cenozoic era, which we are still currently in.

Question 20

What was the Permian period?

Answer 20

The Permian period is a division of the Paleozoic era, which happened 248 million years ago. This marked the end of that era.