Help
Options
Didn't know it?
click below
click below
Knew it?
click below
click below
Don't Know
Remaining cards (0)
Know
retry
shuffle
restart
0:00
Embed Code - If you would like this activity on your web page, copy the script below and paste it into your web page.
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Mrs. Reno EH Vocab
Earth History Vocabulary
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Theory | In science, an explanation for natural events that is based on a large number of observations and is in accord with existing scientific principles. |
| Uniformitarianism | The hypothesis that the Earth developed gradually through natural processes still at work today. Examples: weathering processes, erosion, volcanoes, earthquakes, etc...) |
| Stratigraphy | A branch of geology, studying rock layers and layering. |
| Extinction | The death of all members of a species. |
| Fossil | The remains of an organism or sign of an organism, usually preserved in rock. |
| Plate Tectonics | Theory of geology that the Earth's lithosphere is broken up into large plates which move over time. |
| Paleontology | The study of prehistoric life forms on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils. |
| Geologic Time Scale | Used by geologists and other scientists to describe the timing and relationships between events that have occurred during the history of the Earth. |
| Radiometric Dating | A technique to date materials, based on the comparison between the observed amount of a naturaly occurring radioactive isotope (uranium) and their known decay rates. |
| Fitness | The reproductive success of an organism |
| Adaptations | Characteristics/variations of an organism that helps it survive in a particular environment |
| Natual Selection | The unequal survival and reproduction of organisms due to the preservation of favorable adaptations. |
| Population | A group of individuals of the same species, found in the same time and place and are able to reproduce |
| Evolution | A change in genetic traits of a species that distinguishes it from previous populations as a new species of animal. Permanent genetic adaptations. |
| Species | A group of organisms that share similar characteristics and can reproduce among themselves to produce fertile offspring. |
| Variation | An inherited trait that makes an individual different from other members of its species. Results from mutations in the genes of the organism (permanent) |
| Gradualism | A slow, ongoing process where one species changes into a new species. |
| Punctuated Equilibrium | A rapid process where the mutation of a few genes results in the appearance of a new species over a relatively short period of time. |
| Sedimentary Rock | Formed when layers of sand, silt, clay, or mud are compacted and cemented together. examples: limestone, sandstone, shale |
| Radioactive Element (Isotope) | An element that gives off a steady amount of radiation as it slowly changes to a nonradioactive element |
| Embryology | The study of embryos and their development. |
| Homologous | Body parts that are similar in origin and structure. |
| Vestigal Structures. | Structures that no longer seem to have a function. |
| Relative Dating | A way to find the approximate age of the Earth and Fossils using the position of in the rock layers. |
| Absolute Dating | The exact age of an object (such as a rock or artifact); found by techniques, such as the study of growth rings in trees and radiocarbon dating. |
| Law of Superposition | A law that states that the oldest rock layer Is at the bottom and each layer above is the youngest. |
| Precambrian Eon | Earth's formation which accounts for 85% of Earth's history. No fossil Record |
| Paleozoic Era | An era of Earth's history where several plant and animal species evolve. Accounts for 8.5% of Earth's history. Occurs after the Precambrian Era and before the Mesozoic Era |
| Mesozoic Era | An era of Earth's history where several dinosaurs adn birds evolve. Accounts for 3.5% of Earth's history. |
| Cenozioc Era | An era of Earth's history where mammals evolve. Accounts for 1.4% of Earth's history. |
| Eon | Represents a large part of geologic time and the longest unit of time. |
| Epoch | An interval of geologic time that is longer than an age and shorter than a period. |
| Era | A broad span of geological time based on the general type of life existing during the time. The four eras on Earth are Precambrian, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic. |
| Period | A unit of geologic time that is longer than an Epoch and shorter than an Era. Examples: Proterozoic, Archean, Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous, Permian, Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous, Tertiary, Quaternary |
| Age | Represents a small part of geologic time and is the shortest unit of time. |
| Half Life | The number of years needed for half of an isotope to decay. Example: 50%, 25%, 12.5%, 6.25%, 3.125% |
| "Meso" | middle |
| "Paleo" | ancient life |
| "Ceno" | recent life |
| "Homo" | The same |
| Cast | Secondary mold that is a replica of the original. |
| Endangered | Threatened with danger or extinction. |
| Trace fossil | A fossilized track, burrow, or other sign of activity of life of an animal made in sedimentary rock. |
| Carbon Film | A type of preservation or fossilation that happens as a result of pressure and heat from being buried. What remains is a thin film of the remaining carbon from inside the organisms body, showing a silhouette of the original body. |
| Mold | An impression made in the Earth by an organism as it is fossilized. |
| Petrified Fossil | The fossilization of an organism from the Conversion of organic material into inorganic material. |
| Amber | A yellow, brown, or transluscent resin that comes from Coniferous Trees (pine trees). |
| Tar | A molasses-like liquid petroleum product that oozes from the Earth's surface. |
| Pseudofossil | A natural occuring object that looks like a fossil, but is not. |
| Preserved | To keep in perfect or unaltered, original condition |
| Horizontal | Parallel to the ground. Example: Lying flat on your back. |
| "Pseudo" | False |
| "Uni" | One or "One in the Same" |
| Geology | Study of Earth's processes |
| "Geo" | Earth |
| "ology" | The study of |
| "strata" | Layers |
| "graphy" | illustration or drawings of |
| "ologist" | A person who studies |
| Geologist | A person who studies Earth's processes. |
| Invertebrates | Organisms that are lacking a vertebrate or "backbone" |
| Vertebrates | Organisms that have a vertebrate or "backbone" |
| Cladogram | A branching diagram that shows the progressive evolution of species with a common ancestor. |
| Biodiversity | diversity amoung plants and animals species within an environment. |
Created by:
kelli.reno
Popular Earth Science sets