Question 1

On what four assumptions is the principle of faunal succession based?

Accepted Answer

1)The general sequence of fossils is sim

Question 2

The resetting of a mineral's time clock means that

Accepted Answer

A) a mineral can be formed and reformed again and again. 
B) the date obtained will be the date of the metamorphic event,not the date of the rock's formation. 
C) the date obtained will be the date of the rock's formation,not the date of the metamorphic event. 
D) minerals can tell time just like a clock can tell time. 
A) a mineral can be formed and reformed again and again. 
B) the date obtained will be the date of the metamorphic event,not the date of the rock's formation. 
C) the date obtained will be the date of the rock's formation,not the date of the metamorphic event. 
D) minerals can tell time just like a clock can tell time.

Question 3

What are some of the uncertainties in obtaining radiometric carbon dates?

Accepted Answer

The largest uncertainties rela

Question 4

During the Precambrian,the development of the ozone layer helped

Accepted Answer

A) primitive organisms on Earth's surface to nucleate. 
B) shield Earth's surface from harmful ultraviolet radiation. 
C) promote the emergence of stromatolites. 
D) promote the development of anaerobic organisms. 
A) primitive organisms on Earth's surface to nucleate. 
B) shield Earth's surface from harmful ultraviolet radiation. 
C) promote the emergence of stromatolites. 
D) promote the development of anaerobic organisms.

Question 5

The geologic time scale is broken up into time units of different sizes based on

Accepted Answer

A) eons,eras,periods,and epochs. 
B) changes in fossilization. 
C) visible and nonvisible life forms. 
D) major changes in life forms. 
A) eons,eras,periods,and epochs. 
B) changes in fossilization. 
C) visible and nonvisible life forms. 
D) major changes in life forms.

Question 6

The supercontinent of Pangaea formed during the

Accepted Answer

A) Cenozoic. 
B) Paleozoic. 
C) Mesozoic. 
D) Precambrian. 
A) Cenozoic. 
B) Paleozoic. 
C) Mesozoic. 
D) Precambrian.

Question 7

Earth's first atmosphere was rich in water vapor but poor in free oxygen.The atmosphere became more oxygenated with the

Accepted Answer

A) development of the ozone layer. 
B) emergence of stromatolites that developed a simple version of photosynthesis. 
C) emergence of gases from volcanic eruptions. 
D) both A and B. 
A) development of the ozone layer. 
B) emergence of stromatolites that developed a simple version of photosynthesis. 
C) emergence of gases from volcanic eruptions. 
D) both A and B.

Question 8

From first to last,name the eons on the Geologic Time Scale.

Accepted Answer

A) Phanerozoic,Proterozoic,Archean,Hadean. 
B) Hadean,Archean,Proterozoic,Phanerozoic. 
C) Proterozoic,Phanerozoic,Hadean,Archean. 
D) Precambrian,Phanerozoic,Proterozoic,Paleozoic. 
A) Phanerozoic,Proterozoic,Archean,Hadean. 
B) Hadean,Archean,Proterozoic,Phanerozoic. 
C) Proterozoic,Phanerozoic,Hadean,Archean. 
D) Precambrian,Phanerozoic,Proterozoic,Paleozoic.

Question 9

Pangaea formed during the Paleozoic and broke up in the Mesozoic.Of all the former continental unions that existed in Paleozoic time,only that of

Accepted Answer

A) Australia and Antarctica has survived to the present time. 
B) Africa and India has survived to the present time. 
C) North and South America has survived to the present time. 
D) Europe and Asia has survived to the present time. 
A) Australia and Antarctica has survived to the present time. 
B) Africa and India has survived to the present time. 
C) North and South America has survived to the present time. 
D) Europe and Asia has survived to the present time.

Question 10

The first reptiles occurred during the

Accepted Answer

A) Tertiary. 
B) Ordovician. 
C) Triassic. 
D) Carboniferous. 
A) Tertiary. 
B) Ordovician. 
C) Triassic. 
D) Carboniferous.

Question 11

When comparing geologic time to a calendar year,the time of the dinosaurs is in the

Accepted Answer

A) middle of October. 
B) first half of December. 
C) second half of December. 
D) first half of February. 
A) middle of October. 
B) first half of December. 
C) second half of December. 
D) first half of February.

Question 12

An unconformity can be interpreted as

Accepted Answer

A) an occurrence of radioactive decay. 
B) repeated intrusions of igneous rock. 
C) a buried surface of erosion. 
D) the result of repeated volcanic action. 
A) an occurrence of radioactive decay. 
B) repeated intrusions of igneous rock. 
C) a buried surface of erosion. 
D) the result of repeated volcanic action.

Question 13

During the Cretaceous period,Earth experienced a worldwide rise in sea level caused by

Accepted Answer

A) melting of glacial ice. 
B) the thermal expansion of the crustal surface and the breakup of Pangaea. 
C) subduction of the seafloor. 
D) subduction of continental land masses. 
A) melting of glacial ice. 
B) the thermal expansion of the crustal surface and the breakup of Pangaea. 
C) subduction of the seafloor. 
D) subduction of continental land masses.

Question 14

How do geologists determine the relative ages of different rocks?

Accepted Answer

Geologists use the six common

Question 15

Deposition of sediment with each new layer younger than the layer below illustrates the principle of

Accepted Answer

A) original horizontality. 
B) superposition. 
C) nonconformity. 
D) horizontality and nonconformity. 
A) original horizontality. 
B) superposition. 
C) nonconformity. 
D) horizontality and nonconformity.

Question 16

If a radioactive element has a half-life of 5760 years,and the amount of parent material remaining is one-fourth of the original amount,the specimen is about

Accepted Answer

A) 11,520 years old. 
B) 17,280 years old. 
C) 23,040 years old. 
D) 28,800 years old. 
A) 11,520 years old. 
B) 17,280 years old. 
C) 23,040 years old. 
D) 28,800 years old.

Question 17

What does the principle of superposition say about the ages of rocks?

Accepted Answer

The oldest rock in a

Question 18

Development of Earth's early oceans was likely due to

Accepted Answer

A) water-rich meteors bombarding Earth's surface. 
B) volcanic outgassing in Precambrian time. 
C) intense convection in the mantle,and severe heat dissipation from Earth's interior. 
D) cooler temperatures that promoted the condensation of water vapor in the atmosphere. 
A) water-rich meteors bombarding Earth's surface. 
B) volcanic outgassing in Precambrian time. 
C) intense convection in the mantle,and severe heat dissipation from Earth's interior. 
D) cooler temperatures that promoted the condensation of water vapor in the atmosphere.

Question 19

By radiometric dating,the oldest mineral in a sedimentary rock was found to be 1.4 million years old.What is the age of the sedimentary rock?

Accepted Answer

A) 1.4 million years 
B) no older than 1.4 million years 
C) no younger than 1.4 million years 
D) Radiometric dating does not work for sedimentary rocks. 
A) 1.4 million years 
B) no older than 1.4 million years 
C) no younger than 1.4 million years 
D) Radiometric dating does not work for sedimentary rocks.

Question 20

At the end of the Ordovician,many shallow-marine organisms went extinct due to

Accepted Answer

A) deep water predators. 
B) a long duration of high sea level. 
C) cooling temperatures,increased glaciation,and decreased sea level. 
D) cooling temperatures,increased glaciation,and a rise in sea level. 
A) deep water predators. 
B) a long duration of high sea level. 
C) cooling temperatures,increased glaciation,and decreased sea level. 
D) cooling temperatures,increased glaciation,and a rise in sea level.

Exam 23: Geologic Time - Reading the Rock Record

On what four assumptions is the principle of faunal succession based?

The resetting of a mineral's time clock means that

What are some of the uncertainties in obtaining radiometric carbon dates?

During the Precambrian,the development of the ozone layer helped

The geologic time scale is broken up into time units of different sizes based on

The supercontinent of Pangaea formed during the

Earth's first atmosphere was rich in water vapor but poor in free oxygen.The atmosphere became more oxygenated with the

From first to last,name the eons on the Geologic Time Scale.

Pangaea formed during the Paleozoic and broke up in the Mesozoic.Of all the former continental unions that existed in Paleozoic time,only that of

The first reptiles occurred during the

When comparing geologic time to a calendar year,the time of the dinosaurs is in the

An unconformity can be interpreted as

During the Cretaceous period,Earth experienced a worldwide rise in sea level caused by

How do geologists determine the relative ages of different rocks?

Deposition of sediment with each new layer younger than the layer below illustrates the principle of

If a radioactive element has a half-life of 5760 years,and the amount of parent material remaining is one-fourth of the original amount,the specimen is about

What does the principle of superposition say about the ages of rocks?

Development of Earth's early oceans was likely due to

By radiometric dating,the oldest mineral in a sedimentary rock was found to be 1.4 million years old.What is the age of the sedimentary rock?

At the end of the Ordovician,many shallow-marine organisms went extinct due to

Patterns of Motion and Equilibrium

Newtons Laws of Motion

Momentum and Energy

Gravity, Projectiles, and Satellites

Fluid Mechanics

Thermal Energy and Thermodynamics

Heat Transfer and Change of Phase

Static and Current Electricity

Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction

Waves and Sound

Light

Atoms and the Periodic Table

The Atomic Nucleus and Radioactivity

Elements of Chemistry

How Atoms Bond and Molecules Attract

Mixtures

How Chemicals React

Two Classes of Chemical Reactions

Organic Compounds

Rocks and Minerals

Plate Tectonics and Earths Interior

Shaping Earths Surface

The Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climatic Effects

Driving Forces of Weather

The Solar System

Stars and Galaxies

The Structure of Space and Time

Prologue: The Nature of Science

Filters