Study Guide for Fossil Exam
1.
What are the 2 general methods of telling how old fossils are?
2.
How can you measure relative time (3 ways)?
3.
How can you measure absolute time (3 ways)?
4.
Explain radioactive isotope decay.
5.
Explain the use of the isotopes K-40, U-238, and C-14. Know the half-life of each isotope.
6.
What type of rocks are fossils found in? Why?
7.
Explain the law of superposition, and be able to apply it.
8.
What is the law of cross-cutting relationships?
9.
What is the law of included fragments?
10.
List and describe what went on during the 4 geologic eras. (generally)
11.
What does half-life mean?
Be able to calculate the amount of parent and daughter material found in an object over a given time. You don’t
have to write anything about it here, but just make sure you know how to do it for the test!