Date ________________________ Period ________________________ Name ________________________________________
The Precambrian Earth
Chapter Preview
Before you read the chapter, use the “What I Know” column to list three
things you know about the Precambrian. Then list three questions you have
about the Precambrian in the “What I Want to Find Out” column.
K
What I Know
W
What I Want to Find Out
1. ________________________
1. ________________________
________________________
________________________
2. ________________________
2. ________________________
________________________
________________________
3. ________________________
3. ________________________
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SCIENCE JOURNAL
Think about the Launch Lab you did to observe how liquids of different densities model early Earth and
record your responses in this science journal.
Describe what happened to the colored water and vegetable oil in the beaker.
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Explain how this is similar to what happened to the core and mantle when Earth formed.
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The Precambrian Earth
253
Name __________________________________
SECTION 1 Early Earth
MAIN IDEA
DETAILS
Predict Read the title of Section 1. List three things that might be
discussed in this section.
1. _______________________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________________
Review Vocabulary
metamorphism
Use your text to define the following term.
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New Vocabulary
zircon
Use your text to define each term.
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meteorite
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asteroid
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Academic
Vocabulary
debris
Define the following term.
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The Precambrian Earth
254
Name __________________________________
SECTION 1 Early Earth
MAIN IDEA
(continued)
DETAILS
Earth’s “Birth” Organize the four billion years that make up the Precambrian by
Use with page 620.
completing the following flowchart.
How old is Examine the evidence scientists used to determine Earth’s age by
Earth? completing the table below. The first one has been done for you.
Use with pages 620–621.
Rock or Mineral
Oldest rocks on Earth
Age
4.28 billion years old
at least 4.4 billion years old
between 4.5 and 4.7 billion years old
between 4.4 and 4.5 billion years old
Age of the Earth
Explain how scientists used the evidence in the chart above to determine
the age of Earth.
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The Precambrian Earth
255
Name __________________________________
SECTION 1 Early Earth
MAIN IDEA
(continued)
DETAILS
Earth’s Heat List the three heat sources of Earth shortly after it formed.
Sources 1. _______________________________________________________________
Use with pages 621–622.
2. _______________________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________________
Create a 3-step diagram that shows how rocky bodies in the
early solar system could have created an extremely hot Earth.
Predict what will happen to the number of radioactive isotopes as Earth
continues to get older.
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Explain how asteroid and meteorite bombardment caused gravitational
contraction by completing the sentences.
Most objects that hit Earth are _________________, fragments of
Asteroids. The resulting accumulation of meteorite material caused Earth to
grow in __________ and __________. The gravity of the material
increased the ___________________ inside the Earth. This energy was
converted into ________________. The meteorite’s material also caused a
____________________ effect, which kept the _________ from escaping.
REAL-WORLD CONNECTION
The interior of Earth is still generating heat. Hypothesize which of the three original sources this
heat is coming from.
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The Precambrian Earth
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