Notes Science SPI 0807.5.5 Relative Age of Fossils Tennessee SPI Objective: Compare fossils found in sedimentary rock to determine their relative age. Instructions for Students 1) Make sure you view this presentation in slideshow mode. 2) You can find instructions about how to do this by doing a Google search or by searching YouTube. 3) After you have it in slideshow mode, press the right-arrow keyboard button to advance through the presentation. 4) If you need help, please communicate with your teacher. Essential Question(s) 1) How is sedimentary rock formed? 2) What is the law of superposition? 3) How are fossils in sedimentary rock formed? 4) How is relative age determined? Check for Understanding Create a diagram that illustrates the relative ages of fossils in sedimentary rock layers.

Relative Age of Fossils SPI 0807.5.5 Relative Age of Fossils Notes Science What Are Fossils? Fossils are the preserved physical remains of deceased organisms that are at least 10,000 years old NOTE: Most organisms DO NOT become fossils after death NOTE: The formation of fossils is a RARE event Video Clip 01 Link (1 min 50 sec): What is a fossil? How are Fossils Formed? Fossils form in a variety of ways. For this lesson we will focus on fossils in sedimentary rock. Video Clip 02 Link (2 min 10 sec-stop at 1:45): Fossils in Sedimentary Rock

Sedimentary Rock Sediment refers to particles of dirt, rock, and debris suspended in liquid. Sedimentary rock is formed from this. Law of Superposition Bottom layers are the oldest. Top layers are the youngest Video Clip 03 Link (1 min 38 sec): Law of Superposition-Laundry Basket Analogy

Sedimentary Process and Fossils A) Erosion washes away particles of dirt and rock. B) These particles accumulate somewhere else into layers. C) Deceased organisms sometimes accumulate in these layers D) Under certain rare conditions, these organisms become fossils E) Over time layers pile up on top of pre-existing layers Video Clip 04 Link ( 1 min 51 sec): Sedimentary Rock Formation

We can tell if one fossil is older than another based on which Relative Dating We can tell if one fossil is older than another based on which layer we find it in. (Deeper layers-older. Shallow layers-younger) Video Clip 05 Link ( 4 min 10 sec): Laws of Relative Dating Example: See 3 layers below …Layer A, Layer B, and Layer C Layer C is older than layer B. So fossils in deeper layers are older than fossils above it. Layer B is older than layer A. Fossil 1 is older than fossil 2. Fossil 3 is the youngest Youngest 3 Layer A 2 Layer B Oldest 1 Layer C

Relative Age of Fossils SPI 0807.5.5 Relative Age of Fossils Questions Science

Endoskeletons Exoskeletons

Relative Age of Fossils SPI 0807.5.5 Relative Age of Fossils Questions Science