1. Sam is older than Mike, but younger than Casey.” This is an example of what dating process? Relative Dating

2. Give an example of the radiometric ages of Sam, Mike, and Casey. Sam is 14, Mike is 12, and Casey is 11 years old.

3. What is a half-life? The amount of time it takes for half of the parent isotope to turn into the daughter isotope.

4. How would someone find the radiometric age of a fossil? Describe the process. First, find the the ratio or percentage of parent to daughter isotopes. Next, use the isotope number to find the number of half- lives have passed. Last, multiply the number of half-lives passed times the length of that specific isotope’s half-life.

5. Isotopes are similar to regular atoms, but they have a different number of ________? Neutrons!

6. If parent isotope A has a half-life of 2,000 years, how old is the object if it has 25% parent isotope and 75% daughter isotope? 4,000 years old

7. Tell me 1 pro and 1 con of radiometric dating and relative dating.

8. Name the sections of the geologic time scale from largest to smallest. Eon, Era, Period, Epoch

9. What type of rock is best used for preserving fossils ? Why? Sedimentary rocks are best because igneous rocks would cause melting/burning of the organism and metamorphic rocks are under high pressure that could crush the organism.

10. What periods were the 2 largest mass extinctions and what caused them? Permian and Cretaceous – caused by global cooling climate change

11. What is the best environment for creating a fossil? A soft moist sediment

12. Draw a diagram of an anticline and syncline. Anticline Syncline

13. Draw and label a diagram describing the law of superposition.

14. What fossil type is made when sediment and minerals completely replace an organism, making an exact replica of the organism. Cast!

15. An animal trapped in ice is an example of what fossil type? Preserved Remains

16. What are index fossils? Fossils of common organisms that only existed for a short period of time and are easily fossilized.

17. Describe the Mesozoic Era. Age of reptiles First rodent like mammals Reptiles and dinosaurs dominant Birds and flying reptiles developed Flowering plants Pangea breaks apart 2 nd largest major extinction (60- 80%) caused by climate change