Question 1

When radioactive potassium-40 decays, the stable daughter isotope ________ is produced.

Accepted Answer

argon-40

Question 2

Why isn't the Precambrian more finely divided into sub-divisions like periods and epochs?

Accepted Answer

A) Fewer and less diverse fossils exist in Precambrian rocks. 
B) Precambrian rocks don't have radioactive isotopes in them. 
C) Geologists just don't care about the Precambrian the way they do about more recent time periods. 
D) The Precambrian lacks the igneous rocks that are most useful for radiometric dating. 
A) Fewer and less diverse fossils exist in Precambrian rocks. 
B) Precambrian rocks don't have radioactive isotopes in them. 
C) Geologists just don't care about the Precambrian the way they do about more recent time periods. 
D) The Precambrian lacks the igneous rocks that are most useful for radiometric dating. A

Question 3

Examine the figure. If the Wingate Sandstone was deposited in the Triassic period and the Carmel Formation in the Jurassic, a visitor to Bryce Canyon National Park shouldn't expect to find any strata older than the ________ period.

Accepted Answer

A) Triassic 
B) Cretaceous 
C) Permian 
D) Tertiary 
A) Triassic 
B) Cretaceous 
C) Permian 
D) Tertiary A

Question 4

Sandstone strata and a mass of granite are observed to be in contact. Which of the following statements is correct?

Accepted Answer

A) The sandstone is younger if the granite contains sandstone inclusions. 
B) The sandstone is younger if it shows evidence of contact metamorphism. 
C) The granite is older if the sandstone contains pebbles of the granite. 
D) The granite is older if it contains inclusions of sandstone. 
A) The sandstone is younger if the granite contains sandstone inclusions. 
B) The sandstone is younger if it shows evidence of contact metamorphism. 
C) The granite is older if the sandstone contains pebbles of the granite. 
D) The granite is older if it contains inclusions of sandstone.

Question 5

The white arrow in this cross-section points to an unconformity (black line). What kind of unconformity is it?

Accepted Answer

A) disconformity 
B) angular unconformity 
C) nonconformity 
D) dike 
A) disconformity 
B) angular unconformity 
C) nonconformity 
D) dike

Question 6

What sequence of events would have to occur in order to produce the unconformity shown here?

Accepted Answer

First the lower units (purple/white)woul

Question 7

Fossils of an organism can be found in rocks older than the organism itself.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Which rock unit is most likely to have undergone regional metamorphism?

Accepted Answer

The answer of  
Which rock unit is most likely...

Question 9

Is carbon-14 an appropriate isotope for dating the metamorphic rocks at the bottom of the Grand Canyon? Explain.

Accepted Answer

No, it's not. The rocks at the bottom of

Question 10

The process by which geologists identify and match sedimentary strata and other rocks of the same ages in different areas is called superposition.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Which of the following describes radioactive decay by beta particle emission?

Accepted Answer

A) The atomic number of the daughter isotope is one more than the parent; the mass numbers are the same. 
B) The daughter isotope has an atomic number one less than the parent and a mass number two less. 
C) The mass number of the daughter isotope is one more than the parent and both isotopes have the same atomic number. 
D) The daughter isotope has an atomic number two less than the parent and a mass number four less. 
A) The atomic number of the daughter isotope is one more than the parent; the mass numbers are the same. 
B) The daughter isotope has an atomic number one less than the parent and a mass number two less. 
C) The mass number of the daughter isotope is one more than the parent and both isotopes have the same atomic number. 
D) The daughter isotope has an atomic number two less than the parent and a mass number four less.

Question 12

Which is most useful for determining the age of the raisins in raisin bread, relative to the bread in which they are found?

Accepted Answer

A) principle of superposition 
B) principle of original horizontality 
C) principle of cross-cutting relationships 
D) principle of inclusions 
A) principle of superposition 
B) principle of original horizontality 
C) principle of cross-cutting relationships 
D) principle of inclusions

Question 13

The geologic time scale was devised before the techniques for numerical dating using radioactivity were developed.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Most sedimentary rocks cannot be dated directly by ________ methods.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Most sedimentary rocks cannot be dated directly...

Question 15

Match between columns
                        Premises:  fossil poop
 a fossil organism that is restricted to a certain brief stretch of geologic time, but was widespread and abundant during its time on Earth
 the notion that we can understand the geologic past by focusing on present day processes and physical laws; geologic change may be slow or gradual
 a group of fossils that co-existed at the same time. Their overlapping ranges can help constrain the age of a rock unit that contains them
 fossil tree sap
 the defunct notion that the Earth is only a few thousand years old, and that all geologic change is accomplished rapidly through violent events
 indirect evidence of ancient life, such as footprints, bite marks, and gastroliths
 the remains or traces of ancient life

Accepted Answer

The Answer of catastrophism and fossil and amber and fossil is...

Question 16

Compare and contrast relative age dating with radiometric age dating. What is a limitation (if any)of each?

Accepted Answer

Relative dating is timing a geological e

Question 17

A(n)________ is an erosional unconformity with parallel beds or strata above and below.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A(n)________ is an erosional unconformity with parallel...

Question 18

The remains or traces of prehistoric life are called ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The remains or traces of prehistoric life...

Question 19

The strata shown on the left can be correlated with units J, I, and H, on the right.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Would a pigeon or a penguin make a better index fossil for the present day? ________

Accepted Answer

The answer of Would a pigeon or a penguin make...

When radioactive potassium-40 decays, the stable daughter isotope ________ is produced.

Why isn't the Precambrian more finely divided into sub-divisions like periods and epochs?

Examine the figure. If the Wingate Sandstone was deposited in the Triassic period and the Carmel Formation in the Jurassic, a visitor to Bryce Canyon National Park shouldn't expect to find any strata older than the ________ period.

Sandstone strata and a mass of granite are observed to be in contact. Which of the following statements is correct?

The white arrow in this cross-section points to an unconformity (black line). What kind of unconformity is it?

What sequence of events would have to occur in order to produce the unconformity shown here?

Fossils of an organism can be found in rocks older than the organism itself.

Which rock unit is most likely to have undergone regional metamorphism?

Is carbon-14 an appropriate isotope for dating the metamorphic rocks at the bottom of the Grand Canyon? Explain.

The process by which geologists identify and match sedimentary strata and other rocks of the same ages in different areas is called superposition.

Which of the following describes radioactive decay by beta particle emission?

Which is most useful for determining the age of the raisins in raisin bread, relative to the bread in which they are found?

The geologic time scale was devised before the techniques for numerical dating using radioactivity were developed.

Most sedimentary rocks cannot be dated directly by ________ methods.

Compare and contrast relative age dating with radiometric age dating. What is a limitation (if any)of each?

A(n)________ is an erosional unconformity with parallel beds or strata above and below.

The remains or traces of prehistoric life are called ________.

The strata shown on the left can be correlated with units J, I, and H, on the right.

Would a pigeon or a penguin make a better index fossil for the present day? ________

Matter and Minerals

Rocks: Materials of the Solid Earth

Landscapes Fashioned by Water

Glacial and Arid Landscapes

Plate Tectonics: A Scientific Revolution Unfolds

Restless Earth: Earthquakes, Geologic Structures, and Mountain Building

Volcanoes and Other Igneous Activity

Oceans: The Last Frontier

The Restless Ocean

Heating the Atmosphere

Moisture, Clouds, and Precipitation

The Atmosphere in Motion

Weather Patterns and Severe Weather

The Nature of the Solar System

Beyond Our Solar System

Filters

Exam 8: Geologic Time

When radioactive potassium-40 decays, the stable daughter isotope ________ is produced.

Why isn't the Precambrian more finely divided into sub-divisions like periods and epochs?

Examine the figure. If the Wingate Sandstone was deposited in the Triassic period and the Carmel Formation in the Jurassic, a visitor to Bryce Canyon National Park shouldn't expect to find any strata older than the ________ period.

Sandstone strata and a mass of granite are observed to be in contact. Which of the following statements is correct?

The white arrow in this cross-section points to an unconformity (black line). What kind of unconformity is it?

What sequence of events would have to occur in order to produce the unconformity shown here?

Fossils of an organism can be found in rocks older than the organism itself.

Which rock unit is most likely to have undergone regional metamorphism?

Is carbon-14 an appropriate isotope for dating the metamorphic rocks at the bottom of the Grand Canyon? Explain.

The process by which geologists identify and match sedimentary strata and other rocks of the same ages in different areas is called superposition.

Which of the following describes radioactive decay by beta particle emission?

Which is most useful for determining the age of the raisins in raisin bread, relative to the bread in which they are found?

The geologic time scale was devised before the techniques for numerical dating using radioactivity were developed.

Most sedimentary rocks cannot be dated directly by ________ methods.

Compare and contrast relative age dating with radiometric age dating. What is a limitation (if any)of each?

A(n)________ is an erosional unconformity with parallel beds or strata above and below.

The remains or traces of prehistoric life are called ________.

The strata shown on the left can be correlated with units J, I, and H, on the right.

Would a pigeon or a penguin make a better index fossil for the present day? ________

Matter and Minerals

Rocks: Materials of the Solid Earth

Landscapes Fashioned by Water

Glacial and Arid Landscapes

Plate Tectonics: A Scientific Revolution Unfolds

Restless Earth: Earthquakes, Geologic Structures, and Mountain Building

Volcanoes and Other Igneous Activity

Oceans: The Last Frontier

The Restless Ocean

Heating the Atmosphere

Moisture, Clouds, and Precipitation

The Atmosphere in Motion

Weather Patterns and Severe Weather

The Nature of the Solar System

Beyond Our Solar System

Filters