Geologic Time Scale

Notes for section 4.3

Time To Review!!!

Scientists can determine the absolute age of sedimentary rocks?

1. True 2. False

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What is the age of the Earth?

1. 2. 3. 4. 570 million years 1.1 billion years 4.6 billion years 9.5 billion years
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Which type of fossil would most likely show a complete outline of a leaf?
1. 2. 3. 4. Petrified wood Carbon films Cast fossil Trace fossil
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How does petrified wood form?

1. 2. 3. 4. A log falls into water that freezes Sedimentary rock forms over a log Igneous rock covers a log and heats it. Water seeps through a log, replacing its cells with minerals.

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Time for Notes!

The Big Idea!

The geologic time scale shows Earths past!

Watch this clip for an introduction!

http://www.teachersdomain.org/asse t/psu10sci_vid_deeptime/

Earth is constantly changing

The same processes that changed Earth in the past continue to occur today. For instance: agents of erosion, volcanic eruptions, and building of sediment to form rock. Hutton called this the Theory of Uniformitarianism

Theory of Uniformitarianism
Earth is an always-changing place The same forces of change at work today were at work in the past. Some changes are gradual
Mountain formation Erosion

Some changes are fast

Volcanic eruptions Earthquakes Floods

How do you make a time scale of your year?

The Geologic Time Scale Divides Earths History

Lets look at part of this website to learn more! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRQXR2 0cPW4 http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/education/e xplorations/tours/geotime/gtpage1.html

Geologists have developed a geologic time scale

Geologists have divided Earths history into intervals of time defined by major events or changes on Earth
It is called the Geologic Time Scale

This scale is divided into Eons, Eras, Periods and Epochs http://www.teachersdomain.org/asset/oer0 9_vid_massextinct/

Division of Time
Eon- This is the largest unit of time. There are 4 eons
Hadean Eon Archean Eon Proterozoic Eon Phanerozoic Eon

Open your book to page 130 to examine and discuss the time line.

Eons are broken down into Eras

An era is the second largest unit of time. Because so many more changes are recorded in the fossil record of the Phanerozoic Eon, it has been broken down into smaller units of time
Paleozoic Era (ancient life) Mesozoic Era (middle life) Cenozoic Era (recent life)

Eras get broken down into smaller pieces of time called periods
Since we only have 3 eras, with a great deal of fossil records, they have been broken down into periods Paleozoic Era (ancient life)
Cambrian period Ordovician period Silurian period Devonian period Carboniferous period Permian period

 Mesozoic Era (middle life)

Triassic period Jurassic period Cretaceous period

Cenozoic Era (recent life)

Tertiary period Quaternary period

Lets Take a Look Back at Page 130!

Earths history is divided into 4 Eons.

1. True 2. False
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In which time span did dinosaurs live?

1. 2. 3. 4. Cenozoic Era Mesozoic Era Paleozoic Era Precambrian Time
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Which statement best describes the theory of uniformitarianism? 1. Earth continues to

2.

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3. 4.

change as it always has. Earth is changing, but not as quickly as it used to. Earth is changing, but faster than is used to. Earth is no longer changing.
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