A TRIP THROUGH GEOLOGIC TIMECHAPTER 10 PAGE 310

March 2012

By award winning Mr. Huppert

Fossils Section 1 page 310

1. What is a fossil? A fossil is the preserved remains or

traces of living things Provides evidence of how life changed over

time Provides clues to what past environments

were like

Fossils

2. How does a fossil form? An organism dies. Sediment covers the

remains. The sediment becomes rock.

2 a. What type of rock do fossils form in? Sedimentary

Fossils continuedMold fossils

3. What is a mold fossil and how does it form? A hollow area in sediment in the shape of an

organism. Forms when the hard part of the organism is buried in sediment.

Fossils continuedCast fossils

4. What is a cast fossil and how does it form? A cast fossil is a solid copy of the shape of an

organism. A cast is the opposite of a mold.

Fossils Petrified

5. What is a petrified fossil? A fossil in which minerals have replaced

all or part of the organism.

Fossils Carbon film

6. What are carbon films? An extremely thin coating of carbon on

rock from the organism.

Fossils continued

7. Describe trace fossils: Trace fossils can tell us about the

organisms size, behavior, number of feet, whether or not it traveled in groups, etc…

Fossils

8.What are some other ways organisms can be preserved? Organisms can be preserved in tar,

amber, and ice.

Almost done with fossils!

9. What is the name of the type of scientist that studies fossils? A Paleontologist

Fossil Record10. What is the fossil record? The fossil record provides evidence about

the history of life and past environments on Earth. It shows how different groups of organisms have changed over time.

Done with fossils!

11. What is the name of the theory that describes and explains the change of organisms over time? Evolution

The relative age of rocksSection 2 pg. 317

1. What is the difference between relative and absolute age? Relative age is the age of a rock

compared to the ages of other rocks. Absolute is the exact (within a few years) age of the rock.

Superposition

2. What is the law of superposition? The oldest rock layers are on the bottom.

Each higher layer above is younger.

The relative age of rocks continued

3. How do scientists determine the relative age of rocks? They look at extrusions, intrusions, faults

and gaps in the geologic record. Extrusions are always younger than the rocks

below it An intrusion is always younger then the rock

layer around or beneath it.

Relative age

4. How can scientists use fossils to date rocks and what is an index fossil? Fossils that are widely distributed and

represent an organism that lived only briefly can tell the relative ages of the rock layer they are in. The fossils are called index fossils.

Radioactive DatingSection 3 page 323

Describe in detail radioactive decay: Radioactive decay occurs when certain

elements breakdown or decay into a different version of the same element or into a new element. The rate of decay is constant (called half life). Half life is the amount of time it takes half of the atoms to decay over time.

Radioactive Datingcontinued

2. Does radioactive dating determine absolute or relative age? Absolute3. What are the two most common radioactive elements used in radioactive dating? Potassium- argon and Carbon 14

The Geologic Time ScaleSection 4 page 327

1.What is the geologic time scale? A record of life forms and geologic events in

Earth’s history. 2.What criteria did scientists use to determine how to divide up the units of geologic time? They used major changes in life forms at

certain times.Era- one of the three long units of time between Precambrian and presentPeriod- the unit that is used to divide era’s

The Early EarthSection 5 page 330

1. How long ago do scientists believe the earth formed? 4.6 billion years ago

2. How do scientists know this? Through radioactive dating of rocks

Early Earth

3.How did the earth take shape? (how did it form?) It began as a ball of dust and rock pulled

together by gravity. Denser material sank to the core. The collisions made the planet very hot.

Early Earth4. How many atmospheres do we think the earth had? Two

5.What happened to the first atmosphere? It was destroyed by the sun- solar storms.

(Our mortal enemy)6.How do we believe the oceans formed? Water vapor in the atmosphere condensed

and accumulated forming the oceans.

The Early Earthcontinued

7. Describe the first life on earth: Single celled similar to todays bacteria.

(Very simple)