Earth’sStoryRelativeDatingAbsoluteDating Looking at Fossils Time Marches On Final Jeopardy Final Jeopardy

Scientists believe that this caused the extinction of the majority of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago? Scientists believe that this caused the extinction of the majority of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago?

asteroid Back $100

What is the principle that states that geologic change occurs suddenly? What is the principle that states that geologic change occurs suddenly?

Catastrophism Back $200

What is the science that studies past life on Earth? What is the science that studies past life on Earth?

Paleontology Back $300

What principle states that geologic processes that occurred in the past can be explained by current geologic process? What principle states that geologic processes that occurred in the past can be explained by current geologic process?

Uniformitarianism Back $400

Where in England did James Hutton observe rock formations that had to have taken millions of years to form? Where in England did James Hutton observe rock formations that had to have taken millions of years to form?

Siccar Point Back $500

What method is used to determine whether an event or object is older or younger than other events or objects? What method is used to determine whether an event or object is older or younger than other events or objects?

Back Relative dating $100

What is the ideal sequence of rock layers that contains all the known fossils and rock formations on Earth, arranged from oldest to youngest? What is the ideal sequence of rock layers that contains all the known fossils and rock formations on Earth, arranged from oldest to youngest?

geologic column Back $200

A fault, intrusion, fold, or tilt can create an ________________ in rock layers, causing a missing part of the geologic column? A fault, intrusion, fold, or tilt can create an ________________ in rock layers, causing a missing part of the geologic column?

unconformity Back $300

What is the principle that states that younger rocks lie above older rocks if the layers have not been disturbed? What is the principle that states that younger rocks lie above older rocks if the layers have not been disturbed?

superposition Back $400

What unconformity do we call molten rock that squeezes into existing rock and cools? What unconformity do we call molten rock that squeezes into existing rock and cools?

intrusion Back $500

What method is used to measure the age of an event or object in years? What method is used to measure the age of an event or object in years?

absolute dating Back $100

What is the time needed for half of a sample of a radioactive substance to undergo radioactive decay? What is the time needed for half of a sample of a radioactive substance to undergo radioactive decay?

half-life Back $200

What is an atom that has the same number of protons as other atoms of the same element, but has a different number of neutrons? What is an atom that has the same number of protons as other atoms of the same element, but has a different number of neutrons?

isotopes Back $300

When parent isotopes decay into daughter isotopes, what is given off? When parent isotopes decay into daughter isotopes, what is given off?

Back $400 heat or thermal energy

What method can be used to date dead organic life forms or rocks younger than 50,000 years old? What method can be used to date dead organic life forms or rocks younger than 50,000 years old?

Carbon-14 Method Back $500

What do we call the remains of physical evidence of an organism preserved by geologic processes? What do we call the remains of physical evidence of an organism preserved by geologic processes?

fossils Back $100

What are insects often times trapped in to help preserve their remains? What are insects often times trapped in to help preserve their remains?

amber or tree sap Back $200

Preserved animal tracks, burrows, or coprolite (animal dung) are good examples of ___________ fossils. Preserved animal tracks, burrows, or coprolite (animal dung) are good examples of ___________ fossils.

trace Back $300

What is the name of a cavity that has been filled in rock where a plant or animal was buried? What is the name of a cavity that has been filled in rock where a plant or animal was buried?

mold Back $400

What is a fossil that is found in the rock layers of only one geologic age and that is used to establish the age of the rock layers? What is a fossil that is found in the rock layers of only one geologic age and that is used to establish the age of the rock layers?

index fossil Back $500

What do we call the death of every member of a species? What do we call the death of every member of a species?

extinction Back $100

What is the scale that divides Earth’s 4.6 billion-year history into distinct intervals of time? What is the scale that divides Earth’s 4.6 billion-year history into distinct intervals of time?

geologic time scale Back $200

What kinds of animals were present in the Mesozoic Era, which lasted from 248 million years ago to 65 million years ago? What kinds of animals were present in the Mesozoic Era, which lasted from 248 million years ago to 65 million years ago?

dinosaurs Back $300

Where in North America is the best example to see the Earth’s history recored in rock layers? Where in North America is the best example to see the Earth’s history recored in rock layers?

The Grand Canyon Back $400

In which era did humans and mammals begin appearing and have flourished for over 65 million years? In which era did humans and mammals begin appearing and have flourished for over 65 million years?

Cenozoic Era Back $500

Where did Charles Doolittle Walcott discover some of the oldest fossils in the world (Hint: it’s located in western Canada)? Where did Charles Doolittle Walcott discover some of the oldest fossils in the world (Hint: it’s located in western Canada)?

Back Burgess Shale Formation