Rock And Fossil Record Vocab Quiz

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  • 1/15 Questions

     Older rocks lie above younger rocks.

    • True
    • False
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About This Quiz

This quiz tests knowledge on key geological concepts such as uniformitarianism, superposition, unconformities, the geologic column, relative dating, and radioactive decay.

Rock And Fossil Record Vocab Quiz - Quiz

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  • 2. 

    The time required for half of a sample of a radioactive isotope to break down by radioactive decay to form a daughter isotope.

    • Geologic column

    • Half-life

    • Absolute dating

    • Absolute age

    Correct Answer
    A. Half-life
    Explanation
    The half-life refers to the time it takes for half of a sample of a radioactive isotope to decay and form a daughter isotope. It is a measure of the stability of the isotope and can be used to determine the age of rocks or artifacts through a process called absolute dating. The concept of half-life is crucial in understanding radioactive decay and is widely used in various scientific fields, including geology and archaeology.

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  • 3. 

    Catastrophism is the idea that geologic change happens suddenly.

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. True
    Explanation
    Catastrophism is a geological theory that suggests that major changes in the Earth's surface, such as earthquakes or volcanic eruptions, occur suddenly and are caused by catastrophic events. This theory contrasts with uniformitarianism, which proposes that geological changes happen gradually over long periods of time. Therefore, the statement that catastrophism is the idea that geologic change happens suddenly is true.

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  • 4. 

    This happens when a radioactive isotope breaks down into a new isotope.

    • Absolute dating

    • Radioactive dating

    • Radioactive decay

    • Disconformity

    Correct Answer
    A. Radioactive decay
    Explanation
    Radioactive decay refers to the process in which a radioactive isotope breaks down or decays into a new isotope. During this decay, the unstable nucleus of the isotope undergoes a spontaneous transformation, releasing radiation in the form of alpha particles, beta particles, or gamma rays. This process is used in radioactive dating to determine the age of rocks, fossils, and other geological materials. By measuring the amount of remaining radioactive isotopes and knowing their half-lives, scientists can calculate the time that has elapsed since the decay began. Therefore, radioactive decay is the best explanation for the given statement.

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  • 5. 

    Finding the exact age of an object is called:

    • Relative dating

    • Geologic dating

    • Half-life

    • Absolute dating

    Correct Answer
    A. Absolute dating
    Explanation
    Absolute dating is the process of determining the exact age of an object or event in years. It involves various scientific techniques such as radiometric dating, which uses the decay of radioactive isotopes to calculate the age of rocks and fossils. Unlike relative dating, which determines the age of an object in relation to other objects, absolute dating provides a specific numerical age. This method is crucial in understanding the timeline of Earth's history and the evolution of life on the planet.

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  • 6. 

    A radioactive isotope is stable.

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. False
    Explanation
    A radioactive isotope is not stable because it undergoes radioactive decay, which means it spontaneously emits radiation and transforms into a different element or isotope. This process continues until the isotope reaches a stable state. Therefore, the correct answer is False.

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  • 7. 

    A detailed series of rock layers that contains all the known fossils and rock formations on Earth.

    • Superposition

    • Geologic column

    • Relative dating

    • Angular unconformity

    Correct Answer
    A. Geologic column
    Explanation
    The geologic column is a detailed series of rock layers that contains all the known fossils and rock formations on Earth. It is a representation of the Earth's history and provides a chronological sequence of events. By studying the different layers and the fossils found within them, scientists can determine the relative ages of rocks and fossils, allowing them to piece together the history of the Earth and the evolution of life forms. The geologic column is an important tool in relative dating and understanding the Earth's geological history.

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  • 8. 

    The idea that younger rocks lie above older rocks.

    • Unconformity

    • Relative dating

    • Superposition

    • Geologic column

    Correct Answer
    A. Superposition
    Explanation
    Superposition is the correct answer because it refers to the principle that in undisturbed rock layers, the youngest rocks are found on top, while the oldest rocks are found at the bottom. This concept is based on the understanding that sedimentary rocks are deposited in horizontal layers over time, with each new layer forming on top of the previous ones. By observing the order of these rock layers, scientists can determine the relative ages of the rocks and the events that occurred during their formation.

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  • 9. 

    Figuring out whether a rock layer is older or younger than the layers around it.

    • Absolute dating

    • Superposition

    • Relative dating

    • Blind dating

    Correct Answer
    A. Relative dating
    Explanation
    Relative dating is the correct answer because it refers to the process of determining the age of a rock layer by comparing it to the layers around it. This method relies on the principle of superposition, which states that in undisturbed rock layers, the oldest layers are found at the bottom while the youngest layers are found at the top. By examining the position of a rock layer in relation to the layers above and below it, scientists can determine whether it is older or younger than the surrounding layers. Absolute dating, on the other hand, provides a specific age in years for a rock layer using various scientific techniques.

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  • 10. 

    Animals take in Carbon-14 by eating plants.

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. True
    Explanation
    Animals take in Carbon-14 by eating plants because plants undergo photosynthesis, which involves the absorption of Carbon-14 from the atmosphere. As animals consume plants as a source of food, they also ingest the Carbon-14 present in the plants. This allows Carbon-14 to enter the animal's body and become part of its tissues. Therefore, the statement "Animals take in Carbon-14 by eating plants" is true.

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  • 11. 

    Another name for a radioactive isotope:

    • Parent isotope

    • Daughter isotope

    • Son isotope

    • Grandmother isotope

    Correct Answer
    A. Parent isotope
    Explanation
    A parent isotope refers to a radioactive isotope that undergoes radioactive decay and produces a daughter isotope. The parent isotope is the original unstable isotope before it transforms into a more stable form, which is the daughter isotope. The terms "son isotope" and "grandmother isotope" do not accurately describe the relationship between radioactive isotopes and are not commonly used in scientific literature.

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  • 12. 

    The idea that geologic changes happen gradually over time.

    • Paleontology

    • Uniformitarianism

    • Catastrophism

    • None of the above

    Correct Answer
    A. Uniformitarianism
    Explanation
    Uniformitarianism is the correct answer because it refers to the concept that geologic changes occur slowly and gradually over time. This idea suggests that the same processes and natural laws that are observed today have been operating throughout Earth's history. It opposes the concept of catastrophism, which suggests that geological changes are primarily caused by sudden and violent events. Paleontology, on the other hand, is the study of fossils and ancient life forms, which is not directly related to the idea of gradual geologic changes.

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  • 13. 

    A paleobotanist studies fossilized insects.

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. False
    Explanation
    A paleobotanist is a scientist who studies fossilized plants, not insects. Therefore, the correct answer is False.

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  • 14. 

    Which of the following is NOT a type of unconformity:

    • Singular unconformity

    • Nonconformity

    • Angular unconformity

    • Disconformity

    Correct Answer
    A. Singular unconformity
    Explanation
    The term "singular unconformity" is not a recognized type of unconformity in geology. Unconformities are surfaces that represent gaps in the geological record, indicating periods of erosion or non-deposition. The three types of unconformities that are widely accepted and recognized are nonconformity, angular unconformity, and disconformity. Nonconformity occurs when sedimentary rocks overlay igneous or metamorphic rocks, angular unconformity occurs when tilted or folded rocks are overlain by younger, horizontal layers, and disconformity occurs when there is a gap in the sedimentary rock record between parallel layers.

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  • 15. 

    Isotopes are atoms of an element that have different numbers of:

    • Protons

    • Electrons

    • Molecules

    • Neutrons

    Correct Answer
    A. Neutrons
    Explanation
    Isotopes are atoms of an element that have different numbers of neutrons. Protons and electrons are always the same in an atom of a particular element, as they determine the element's identity and charge, respectively. Isotopes, on the other hand, have varying numbers of neutrons, which can affect the atom's stability and mass. Therefore, the correct answer is neutrons.

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  • Mar 21, 2023
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • Jan 14, 2009
    Quiz Created by
    Mscarb72
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