How can radioactivity be used to determine the age of a rock?
What will be an ideal response?
Naturally-occurring radioactive materials break down into other materials at known rates. This is known as radioactive decay. Radioactive parent elements decay to stable daughter elements. Many radioactive elements can be used as geologic clocks. Each radioactive element decays at a predictable rate that depends on the amount of radioactive element present. Once this rate is known, geologists can estimate the length of time over which decay has been occurring by measuring the amount of radioactive parent element and the amount of stable daughter elements.
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The distinctive settlement pattern along the St. Lawrence River, developed by the early French settlers to give everyone access to the river, is called _____________.
Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).
Background extinction refers to ____
A)the continual extinction of species B)a small mass extinction C)the total number of extinctions in the history of Earth D)the extinction before a mass extinction E)the small extinctions that make up a mass extinction
A large oak tree with its abundant leaves glimmering in the sun on an early fall morning represents
A) a heterotrophic producer. B) an autotrophic consumer. C) a heterotrophic consumer. D) an autotrophic producer.
Lithification of sediments produces ________.
A. red clay B. rock C. turbidites D. coral E. mud flows