Which statement describes the relative age of a fossil that has formed inside a layer of rock?(1 point)

Responses

The fossil is younger than the layer of rock right above it.
The fossil is younger than the layer of rock right above it.

The fossil is older than the layer of rock right below it.
The fossil is older than the layer of rock right below it.

The fossil is younger than the layer of rock it was formed in.
The fossil is younger than the layer of rock it was formed in.

The fossil is older than the layer of rock it was formed in.
The fossil is older than the layer of rock it was formed in.

11 answers

The correct statement is:

The fossil is older than the layer of rock it was formed in.

Fossils are embedded in the rock layer in which they form, meaning that the fossil itself must be older than the layer of rock that surrounds it.

Which statement describes the relative age of a fossil that has formed inside a layer of rock?(1 point)
Responses

The fossil is younger than the layer of rock right above it.
The fossil is younger than the layer of rock right above it.

The fossil is older than the layer of rock right below it.
The fossil is older than the layer of rock right below it.

The fossil is younger than the layer of rock it was formed in.
The fossil is younger than the layer of rock it was formed in.

The fossil is older than the layer of rock it was formed in.
The fossil is older than the layer of rock it was formed in.

The correct response is:

The fossil is younger than the layer of rock right above it.

Fossils form in sedimentary rock layers, and according to the principle of superposition, the layers of rock are arranged with the oldest on the bottom and the youngest on the top. Therefore, the fossil will be younger than the layer of rock right above it.

Use this sentence: A fault cuts across several layers of rock.

Which conclusion can be made?

(1 point)
Responses

The fault is younger than the layers of rock based on the law of crosscutting.
The fault is younger than the layers of rock based on the law of crosscutting.

The fault is younger than the layers of rock based on the law of inclusion.
The fault is younger than the layers of rock based on the law of inclusion.

The fault is older than the layers of rock based on the law of crosscutting.
The fault is older than the layers of rock based on the law of crosscutting.

The fault is older than the layers of rock based on the law of inclusion.

The correct conclusion is:

The fault is younger than the layers of rock based on the law of crosscutting.

According to the law of crosscutting relationships, if a fault cuts through several layers of rock, the fault must be younger than the rock layers it disrupts.

What do the law of superposition and the law of inclusion have in common?(1 point)
Responses

Both laws are about matching fossils in different areas.
Both laws are about matching fossils in different areas.

Both laws describe the relative ages of rocks.
Both laws describe the relative ages of rocks.

Both laws give the exact ages of rocks.
Both laws give the exact ages of rocks.

Both laws are about the ages of intruding rocks.

The correct response is:

Both laws describe the relative ages of rocks.

The law of superposition states that in a sequence of undisturbed sedimentary layers, the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest are at the top. The law of inclusion states that any rock fragments included in a rock must be older than the rock that contains them. Both laws help to determine the relative ages of rock layers.

Which is correct about the effectiveness of carbon dating? (1 point)
Responses

It only works for organisms that died less than about 60,000 years ago.
It only works for organisms that died less than about 60,000 years ago.

It only works for rocks that formed more than about 60,000 years ago.
It only works for rocks that formed more than about 60,000 years ago.

It only works for rocks that formed more than about 6,000 years ago.
It only works for rocks that formed more than about 6,000 years ago.

It only works for organisms that died less than about 6,000 years ago.

The correct response is:

It only works for organisms that died less than about 60,000 years ago.

Carbon dating, or radiocarbon dating, is effective for dating organic materials (such as wood, bone, and shells) that are up to about 60,000 years old. After this time, the amount of carbon-14 remaining in a sample is too small to measure accurately.

Which statement is correct about carbon dating and index fossils?(1 point)
Responses

They are both used to determine the relative ages of rocks and fossils.
They are both used to determine the relative ages of rocks and fossils.

Carbon dating is used for absolute dating, but index fossils are not.
Carbon dating is used for absolute dating, but index fossils are not.

They are both used to determine the absolute ages of rocks and fossils.
They are both used to determine the absolute ages of rocks and fossils.

Index fossils are used for absolute dating, but carbon dating is not.

The correct response is:

Carbon dating is used for absolute dating, but index fossils are not.

Carbon dating provides an actual age (absolute dating) for organic materials based on the amount of carbon-14 remaining. In contrast, index fossils are used to establish the relative ages of rock layers and the fossils within them, indicating that they are of similar ages without providing specific dates.