Scribd
Upload
2 views

Unit 7 Geologic History Study Guide Answers

The document provides answers to a study guide on geologic history, detailing Earth's age, major eras and their corresponding life forms, and key concepts such as fossil types and dating methods. It highlights significant events like the formation of the ozone layer and human impacts on the environment. Additionally, it describes Virginia's geological provinces and principles of relative and radiometric dating.

Uploaded by

jackdifferent56
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as TXT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
2 views

Unit 7 Geologic History Study Guide Answers

The document provides answers to a study guide on geologic history, detailing Earth's age, major eras and their corresponding life forms, and key concepts such as fossil types and dating methods. It highlights significant events like the formation of the ozone layer and human impacts on the environment. Additionally, it describes Virginia's geological provinces and principles of relative and radiometric dating.

Uploaded by

jackdifferent56
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as TXT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

**Unit 7: Geologic History Study Guide Answers**

1. **Earth is approximately 4.6 billion years old.** This is determined through


radiometric dating of meteorites and the oldest Earth rocks.
2. **Matching**:
- Precambrian Time: Bacteria and algae
- Paleozoic Era: Fish, amphibians, early reptiles
- Mesozoic Era: Dinosaurs
- Cenozoic Era: Mammals and humans
3. **C. Fish** (Turtles evolved from reptiles, which first appeared in the
Paleozoic, but the closest option is "fish" as early reptiles descended from fish-
like ancestors).
4. **Tiktaalik** is a transitional fossil showing features of both fish (fins,
scales) and tetrapods (limb-like fins, neck), marking the transition from aquatic
to terrestrial life.
5. **Ozone layer (O₃)** formed, shielding life from harmful UV radiation, enabling
organisms to move onto land.
6. **Homo erectus** existed between **1.9 million and 140,000 years ago**.
7. Examples from *Earth: Making of a Planet*:
- Ice ages driving species adaptations.
- Asteroid impact causing the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction (dinosaurs).
- Continental drift creating new habitats.
8. **Large-scale environmental disruptions**, such as asteroid impacts, massive
volcanism, or rapid climate change.
9. **Human activities**: Habitat destruction, pollution, overexploitation, and
climate change.

10. **Marine fossils in mountains** indicate the area was once submerged and later
uplifted by tectonic forces.
11. **Fossil types**:
a. **Cast**: Mineral-filled mold forming a replica.
b. **Mold**: Impression left by an organism.
c. **Original Remains**: Preserved body parts (e.g., amber insects).
12. **Trace fossils**: Footprints, burrows, coprolites (fossilized feces), nests.
13. **Good index fossils** are widespread, abundant, and short-lived, enabling
precise dating.
14. **Relative dating** uses fossils to determine layer sequence (e.g., index
fossils indicate specific time periods).
15. **Sedimentary rock** (formed by sediment accumulation, preserving remains).
16. **Bottom of a lake** (rapid burial by sediment vs. erosion on rocky shores).
17. **Quick burial** prevents decomposition/scavenging.
18. **Law of Superposition**: In undisturbed strata, the oldest layers are at the
bottom.
19. **Principle of Cross-Cutting**: Features cutting through layers (e.g., faults,
intrusions) are younger than the layers they cut.
20. **Radiometric dating** measures radioactive decay (e.g., Carbon-14) to
determine absolute ages.
21. **Relative dating** establishes event order using principles like
superposition; no exact dates.

22. **Layer order** (oldest to youngest): Assuming standard superposition, layers


are ordered bottom (oldest) to top (youngest). Adjust for cross-cutting features.
23. **Layers E, F, G** likely experienced erosion (unconformity) or deformation
before subsequent deposition.
24. **Carbon-14 decay**:
a. **2 half-lives** (25% remaining).
b. **12.5%** remaining after 3 half-lives.

25. **Virginia’s Five Provinces**:


- **Coastal Plain**: Flat, sandy, near the Atlantic.
- **Piedmont**: Rolling hills, metamorphic bedrock.
- **Blue Ridge**: High mountains (e.g., Mt. Rogers), igneous/metamorphic rocks.
- **Valley and Ridge**: Folded limestone and sandstone ridges/valleys.
- **Appalachian Plateau**: Plateau with coal deposits.

---
*Note: Some answers assume standard geological principles when diagrams are
unavailable.*

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy