Science Chapter 8
“Earth’s History”
Vocabulary:
Geology
erosion
rock cycle
lava
fault
unconformity
half-life
plate
period
invertebrate
mass extinction
theory of plate tectonics
igneous rock
relative age
inclusion
continental drift
vertebrate
radioactive decay
sedimentary rock
absolute age
index fossil
geologic time scale
amphibian
uniformitarianism
metamorphic rock
intrusion
atom
era
reptile
Law of superposition
magma
extrusion
element
period
mammal
Know the stages of the rock cycle; what happens at each stage?; what are the 3 main groups of rocks?
Compare and contrast relative age and absolute age of rocks; know how geologists determine the relative age of rocks
Know the clues geologists use to determine the relative age of rocks (section 2)
Know the age of intrusions of rock compared to rocks they go through
Know how to use relative age for faults, intrusions, extrusions, inclusions
Why are index fossils used? How can fossils help geologists match rock layers?
What are 2 types of fossils that are used as index fossils?
What is radioactive dating used for? What rocks are best for this process?
What element is used for radioactive dating?
What happens during radioactive decay?
Know what happens during each era on the geologic time scale; When did vertebrates and invertebrates first appear?
What types of organisms existed during each era (Cambrian, Precambrian, Devonian, Mesozoic, Cenozoic, Paleozoic)?
When was the mass extinction?
What were the major events of the Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic eras?
Scientists can use the information about plates moving to do what?
How fast are Earth’s plates moving?
What was the super continent called?
What do scientists think caused the mass extinction of dinosaurs?
What did Hutton’s observations allow him to infer about geologic processes?
What is the relative age of faults compared to the layers around them?
When did life first appear on Earth?
What is the connection between the rock cycle and plate tectonics?
How old is the earth?
What is the principle of uniformitarianism?
Know how to calculate the half-life of an element
Know how sand can end up coming out of a volcano, using the rock cycle
Explain how geologists use the geologic time scale to explain Earth’s history
Explain how plate tectonics, geologic time, the rock cycle, and the theory of evolution are related
California State Standards: Earth and Life History (Earth Sciences)
4. Evidence from rocks allows us to understand the evolution of life on Earth. As a basis for understanding this concept:
a. Students know Earth processes today are similar to those that occurred in the past and slow geologic processes have large cumulative
effects over long periods of time.
b. Students know the history of life on Earth has been disrupted by major catastrophic events, such as major volcanic eruptions or the
impacts of asteroids.
c. Students know that the rock cycle includes the formation of new sediment and rocks and that rocks are often found in layers, with the
oldest generally on the bottom.
d. Students know that evidence from geologic layers and radioactive dating indicates Earth is approximately 4.6 billion years old and that life
on this planet has existed for more than 3 billion years.
f. Students know how movements of Earth’s continental and oceanic plates through time, with associated changes in climate and
geographic connections, have affected the past and present distribution of organisms.
g. Students know how to explain significant developments and extinctions of plant and animal life on the geologic time scale.