Unit 2 Review

Which of the following methods can tell us about Earth's climate history?

A fossilized structure formed by animal activity

The scientific study of the origin, history, forces behind, and structure of the Earth.

A Geologic column is a combination of different layers of rock found in one specific place

Relative Dating can give the age, in exact years, of how old an item is

Used to determine the relative age of sedimentary rocks.

Which statement best describes an index fossil?

Finding the absolute age of a sample by observing the radioactive decay in an object.

What do scientists use to give an absolute date of something?

The breakdown of a radioactive isotope into a stable isotope is called crosscutting

A long cylinder of ice drilled from the ice caps (and used to determine climate history)

 A parent isotope breaks down into ________

States that geologic processes that happened in the past can be explained those happening today

The Mesozoic Era began _________ ago

Scientists use nitrogen dating to determine the age of the Earth

Index fossils are fossils that have lived during a definite time in Earth's history

The remains of an organism that lived long ago

Fossils used to estimate the age of the rock layers in which they are found.

Used to determine whether an object or event is older or younger than other objects or events.

A break in the geologic record

Which is NOT a way we can find fossils preserved?

Determining the actual age of an event or object.

Which of these choices names two kinds of trace fossils?

An ordered arrangement of rock layers based on the relative ages of the rocks

Relative dating is 

If an element has a half-life of 35 years, and two half-lives have occurred, how old would the item be?

Superposition is the idea that the younger rocks lie above older rocks if the layers have not been disturbed

Select a way that fossils can be produced

Pangea formed during the __________ era