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Fantastic Fossils
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How is the principle of uniformitarianism different from catastrophism? How are they similar? | Different - uniformitarianism is GRADUAL geologic change while catastrophism is SUDDEN geologic change Similar - both are theories about Earth’s geologic change |
| What does the law of superposition state? | Rocks, fossils, and rock layers that lie on the bottom are the oldest while the youngest are on the top if the layers are undisturbed |
| How is the law of superposition related to relative dating? | Law of superposition is how they are formed with the oldest on the bottom while relative age tells us if the layers are older or younger than another layer. |
| Is it easier to find the relative age of a fossil or the absolute age? Explain. | Relative Age because it is just an estimation not an exact number |
| What type of fossil is formed from minerals hardening over time turning it to stone? | Petrified Fossil |
| What type of fossil would a footprint be considered? | Trace Fossil |
| What is the difference between a mold and a cast? | A mold is the hollow area in sediment where an organism used to be while a cast is a copy of the shape of an organism |
| Give an example of how the fossil record shows geologic change. | Finding a freshwater fish fossil in the desert proves there was one a river or a lake in that area. Another example would be whale bones and Megladon fossils found in the Savannah river. This proves the river was not always a freshwater source. |
| In order for the law of superposition and original horizontality to apply what must be true about the rock layers? | The rock layers must be undisturbed |
| What era do we currently live in? | Cenozoic |
| Put the following is order from largest to smallest: Epoch, Eon, Era, Period. | Eon, Era, Period, Epoch |
| What is an index fossil? | When an organism was alive for only a short period of time, but was widely distributed |
| How are rocks arranged in a geologic column that is undisturbed? | They are arranged in horizontal layers |
| We know that over 500 million years ago most organisms lived in the oceans, but today we have ocean organisms and land organisms. What does this tell us about how life forms have changed over time? | They have changed from simple to more complex overtime. |
| What does a paleontologist study? | The preserved remains or traces of living things |
| Fossil are found in what type of rock? | Sedimentary (most often) |
| What do trace fossils help paleontologists discover? | These provide clues about the activities of ancient organisms such as their living habits and eating habits |
| How does geologic change happen according to Uniformitarianism? | Geologic change happens gradually over many years according to this term. |
| From largest to smallest what is the correct order of the geologic divisions of time? | Eon, Era, Period, Epoch |
| What does the Geologic Time Scale show us? | Life forms and geologic events in Earth's history |
| If a paleontologist finds fossils of many different ages in the same area what could that mean about that area? | It means many different geologic periods are represented. |
| We know that dinosaurs could have eaten the first birds because scientists found bird fossils and dinosaur fossils in the same layer of rocks. How do they know that cows and dinosaurs did not exist in the same era? | There are no layers of rock that include both dinosaur fossils and cow fossils. |
| Why are Weathering, Erosion and Deposition important in Earth's geologic history? | These processes help to reshape the Earth's surface over time. |
| How have fossils changed overtime? | Started out as simple organisms and become more complex overtime. |
| How do paleontologists use index fossils? | Because these fossils were widely distributed; lived only a short time and tell the relative age of the rock in which they occur, they are used to help determine the relative age of rocks and rock layers. |
| What does the fossil record tell us? | It tells us life on Earth has changed over time causing organisms to be more complex and shows us how the environment changed |
| Which era do you currently live in? | Cenozoic |
| If you found a fresh water fossil in the desert what might you infer about that area long ago? | That area must have contained a river or a lake millions of years ago. (Key word "fresh") |
| The law of superposition helps us know the relative age of rocks and fossils. What does it state? | The oldest rocks and fossils are on the bottom while the youngest are on the top. |
| If a paleontologist and a geologist were trying to figure out if rock layers were undisturbed why could they use original horizontality to help them? | Original horizontality tells them the undisturbed layers will be horizontal not tilted in any way |
| What happens to create a petrified fossil? | Mineral rich water seeps in hardening it and turning it to stone |
| How can you tell a mold from a cast? | A mold will be concave and while a cast is convex. The mold will be an impression while the cast is a copy. The mold is hollow! |
| What are trilobites used for? | They help to determine the relative age of other fossils because they are considered an index fossil. |
| What do paleontologists actually study? | They study the preserved remains of once living things |
| How are rock layers arranged in a geologic column(Sample of Earth)? | Just like with Law of Superposition, the oldest rock layers in the column will be on the bottom while youngest on top. |
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