Earth History – Geology Vocabulary Quiz 2019

Master Earth's past! Geology vocabulary quiz on dating, fossils & time scales.

Use the word bank below for Questions 1-14 1. Continental drift is the theory proposed by Alfred Wegner that Earth’s tectonic plates move slowly over time.2. The movement of the tectonic plates on Earth’s surface is driven by convection currents as magma near the core heats up and rises, then cools and falls in the mantle.3. The theory of uniformitarianism says that the “present is the key to the past,” and that the forces that shaped Earth in the past, millions of years ago, are the same forces that are shaping the Earth today.4. According to the Law of Superposition, when layers of sedimentary rock are undisturbed, the oldest layer is at bottom and the youngest is at the top.5. Fossils are only formed in sedimentary rock.6. Moving tectonic plates, weathering, and erosion create unconformities in the rock, causing layers to be tilted to one side, missing or flipped.7. Igneous Intrusionoccurs when magma from the mantle cuts through the existing rock, making this layer younger than what it cuts through.8. The Geologic Time Scale is a record of the major events and diversity of life forms present in Earth’s history and is divided by major geologic events and life forms.9. Each Eraon the Geologic Time Scale ends with a mass extinction.10. Igneous rock is formed from the cooling of magma or lava.11. During warmer years the layers in ice coresamples will be thin, while during colder years the layers will be thicker.12. The length of time it takes for atoms of a sample to decay is called the half life. 13. This type of dating uses the isotopes Carbon-14 and Uranium-235 to provide a numeric age of a rock or fossil sample. Absolute14. This type of dating uses the Law of Superposition and stratigraphy to determine if a rock layer is older or younger than those around it. Relative Determine if each method of dating is Relativeor Absolute. 15. Carbon-14 Absolute16. Law of Superposition Relative17. Uranium-235 Absolute18. Index Fossils Relative19. Tree Rings Absolute 20. Which is indirect evidence that an organism has been there, such as tracks, dung, and burrows? cast mold amber trace fossil 21. Trilobites make good _ because they help us date rock layers around it. amber fossils index fossils coprolites rocks 22. Which Era of Geologic Time is the longest? Precambrian Paleozoic Mesozoic Cenozoic 23. In which geologic era did humans evolve? Precambrian Paleozoic Mesozoic Cenozoic Look at the image below: 24. Which layer is the youngest? H25. Which layer is the oldest? I 26. Carbon-12, Carbon-13, and Carbon-14 are all _ of Carbon. protons states of matter Isotopes cations 27. Looking at the Periodic Table, if Carbon gains a proton, what does it become? Carbon-14 Boron positive Nitrogen 28. Using the Periodic Table, how many valence electrons does Carbon have? 6 12 4 14 29. What is the acronym for how to use a fire extinguisher? PULL SPRAY PASS FIRE 30. Laboratory work may be started immediately upon entering the laboratory even if the teacher is not yet present. True False 31. List 3 pieces of information can we learn from ice core samples? 32. Why is it important or helpful to understand Earth's past? Bonus: This type of fossil is formed when an organism is buried under fine sediment, and pressure squeezes the organism and leaves only a thin residue of carbon. cast mold trace carbonization Bonus: This type of fossil is formed when an organic structure is “turned to stone” as the molecules of cells are replaced by molecules of minerals. petrified cast mold amber Bonus: Which type of fossil is feces (poop) that is preserved or has been replaced with minerals? cast coprolite amber mold