Question 1

The time necessary for one-half of the original number of radioactive atoms of an element to decay to a stable daughter product is known as a(n)  ____.

Accepted Answer

A)   scale
B)   metamorphosis
C)   half-life
D)   alpha decay
E)   relative ageF) None of the above
G) A) and E)

Question 2

A rock sample containing an isotope with a half-life of 28 million years has an initial mass of 184 grams. How much daughter isotope is present after three half-lives?

Accepted Answer

A)   23 grams
B)   46 grams
C)   69 grams
D)   115 grams
E)   161 gramsF) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 3

In the early 20th century, Pierre and Marie Curie discovered that radioactive decay produces heat.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

The most notable trace in the geologic record of human activities is likely to be a(n)  ____.

Accepted Answer

A)   more diverse pollen record
B)   concrete and metal debris field left from cities
C)   expansion of farmland
D)   increase in carbon dioxide levels, as recorded by ice cores
E)   more alkaline oceanF) A) and D)
G) B) and D)

Question 5

The emission of an electron from the nucleus is called ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The emission of an electron from the...

Question 6

Assigning a specific date to a rock, which is measured in years before present, is known as ____.

Accepted Answer

A)   relative dating
B)   absolute dating
C)   superposition
D)   carbon dating
E)   fossil successionF) A) and D)
G) All of the above

Question 7

If sedimentary rocks are tilted steeply, they most likely have experienced an episode of deformation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

What theory proposes that the same processes seen today have operated throughout geologic time (i.e. the present is the key to the past) ?

Accepted Answer

A)   conformitarianism
B)   inclusion
C)   fossil succession
D)   uniformitarianism
E)   evolutionF) A) and E)
G) B) and C)

Question 9

Lord Kelvin calculated Earth was 20-400 million years old. Why was he wrong?

Accepted Answer

A)   He didn't account for the erosion of sediments.
B)   He didn't account for the presence of salt deposits.
C)   He wrongly assumed the oceans were initially fresh.
D)   His thermometer was incorrectly calibrated.
E)   He didn't know Earth had an internal heat source.F) None of the above
G) A) and D)

Question 10

The principle of ____________________ states that rock layers extend out in all directions until they pinch out or terminate against the edge of a basin.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The principle of ____________________ states that rock...

Question 11

Evaporites in the rock record commonly indicate a period of arid climate.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

The sentence "The Paleozoic Era occurred before the Mesozoic Era" is an example of absolute dating.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Obtaining an absolute age for most sedimentary rocks is difficult.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Lead-214 (Pb-214)  that undergoes beta decay becomes ____.

Accepted Answer

A)   Pb-212
B)   Bi-210
C)   Bi-214
D)   Tl-214
E)   Tl-210F) C) and D)
G) B) and D)

Question 15

Atoms with an unequal number of protons and neutrons are called isotopes.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Compare and contrast the attempts by James Ussher and Lord Kelvin to measure the age of Earth. Explain what they did and why it was or was not scientific.

Accepted Answer

James Ussher studied the genealogy of th...

Question 17

Atoms of a particular element that have a different number of neutrons in their nuclei are called ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Atoms of a particular element that have...

Question 18

A division on the geologic time scale represents ____.

Accepted Answer

A)   the passage of 500,000 years.
B)   the passage of 250 million years
C)   an increase in reptilian poopulation by 100,000
D)   an increase in population of all living organisms by one million
E)   a distinctive event in the rock recordF) B) and C)
G) D) and E)

Question 19

Geologists prefer to use rocks from closed systems when they radiometrically date the rocks. What is a closed system, and why is it important for radiometric dating?

Accepted Answer

Rocks from a closed system have not been...

Question 20

The present geologic time scale is based on relative and numerical dating techniques.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 4: Geologic Time Concepts and Principles

Geologists prefer to use rocks from closed systems when they radiometrically date the rocks. What is a closed system, and why is it important for radiometric dating?

Correct AnswerverifiedRocks from a closed system have not been...View AnswerShow Answer

Lead-214 (Pb-214) that undergoes beta decay becomes ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The time necessary for one-half of the original number of radioactive atoms of an element to decay to a stable daughter product is known as a(n) ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The sentence "The Paleozoic Era occurred before the Mesozoic Era" is an example of absolute dating.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The present geologic time scale is based on relative and numerical dating techniques.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The emission of an electron from the nucleus is called ____________________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Lord Kelvin calculated Earth was 20-400 million years old. Why was he wrong?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A division on the geologic time scale represents ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The principle of ____________________ states that rock layers extend out in all directions until they pinch out or terminate against the edge of a basin.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What theory proposes that the same processes seen today have operated throughout geologic time (i.e. the present is the key to the past) ?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

If sedimentary rocks are tilted steeply, they most likely have experienced an episode of deformation.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Assigning a specific date to a rock, which is measured in years before present, is known as ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Atoms of a particular element that have a different number of neutrons in their nuclei are called ____________________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Compare and contrast the attempts by James Ussher and Lord Kelvin to measure the age of Earth. Explain what they did and why it was or was not scientific.

Correct AnswerverifiedJames Ussher studied the genealogy of th...View AnswerShow Answer

A rock sample containing an isotope with a half-life of 28 million years has an initial mass of 184 grams. How much daughter isotope is present after three half-lives?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Evaporites in the rock record commonly indicate a period of arid climate.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Obtaining an absolute age for most sedimentary rocks is difficult.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In the early 20th century, Pierre and Marie Curie discovered that radioactive decay produces heat.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Atoms with an unequal number of protons and neutrons are called isotopes.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The most notable trace in the geologic record of human activities is likely to be a(n) ____.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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Rocks from a closed system have not been...
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James Ussher studied the genealogy of th...
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