Fossil Records

Question 1

uniformitarianism

Answer 1

the theory that changes in the earth’s crust during geological history has 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 has 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

the science of determining the relative order of past events, without necessarily determining their absolute age

Question 5

absolute dating

Answer 5

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

Question 6

superposition

Answer 6

the ability of a quantum system to be in multiple states at the same time until it is measured

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; in particular, a radioactive form of an element.

Question 8

radioactive decay

Answer 8

the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by radiation.

Question 9

half-life

Answer 9

the time is taken for the radioactivity of a specified isotope to fall to half its original value.

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 another trace of an animal rather than of the animal itself.

Question 12

mold

Answer 12

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

Question 13

cast

Answer 13

cause (light or shadow) to appear on a surface.

Question 14

unconformity

Answer 14

a surface of contact between two groups of unconformable strata.

Question 15

mass extinction

Answer 15

a widespread and rapid decrease in the biodiversity on Earth

Question 16

. Jurassic period

Answer 16

a geologic period and stratigraphic system that spanned from the end of the Triassic Period 201.3 million years ago to the beginning of the Cretaceous Period, approximately 145 Mya.

Question 17

Cretaceous period

Answer 17

The Cretaceous began 145.0 million years ago and ended 66 million years ago

Question 18

Devonian period

Answer 18

a geologic period and system of the Paleozoic, spanning 60.3 million years from the end of the Silurian, 419.2 million years ago, to the beginning of the Carboniferous, 358.9 Mya

Question 19

Quaternary period

Answer 19

the third and last of the three periods of the Cenozoic Era

Question 20

Permian period

Answer 20

a geologic period and stratigraphic system which spans 47 million years from the end of the Carboniferous Period 298.9 million years ago, to the beginning of the Triassic Period 251.902 Mya