Term
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Definition
| The ordering of rocks in sequence by their comparative ages |
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Term
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Definition
| A method for calculating the age of geologic materials based on the nuclear decay of naturally occurring radioactive isotopes |
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Term
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Definition
| The splitting of the atomic nucleus into two smaller halves |
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Term
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Definition
| The combining of nuclei of light atoms to form heavier nuclei |
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Term
| Geological Time Scale, oldest-youngest eras |
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Definition
Precambrian Time
Paleozoic
Mesozoic
Cenozoic |
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Term
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Definition
| Layers of sediment are deposited hortizontally. Layers that are tiled or folded must have been moved into that position by disturbances, such as earthquakes and mountain building, after deposition |
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Term
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Definition
| In an underformed (horizontal) sequence of sedimentary rocks, each layer is older than the one above and younger than the one below. Like the newspapers in a recycling bin, older papers are found below newer, more recent papers. |
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Term
| Cross-cutting relationships |
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Definition
| An igneous intrusion or fault that cuts through preexisting rock is younger than the rock through which it cuts |
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Term
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Definition
| Inclusions are pieces of one rock contained within another. Any inclusion is older than the rock containing it, just as small pieces of rock incorporated in a slab of concrete were formed before the concrete was formed |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| 4500 to 543 million years ago, about 90% of earths' history |
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Term
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Definition
| 543 to 248 million years ago |
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Term
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Definition
| 248 to 65 million years ago |
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Term
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Definition
| 65 million years ago to present |
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Term
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Definition
| An unconformity in which older tilded rock layers are covered by younger, horizontal rock layers |
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Term
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Definition
| Fossil organisms succeed one another in a definite, irreversible, and determinable order |
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Term
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Definition
| Sedimentary layers re deposited in all directions over large areas until some sort of obstruction, or barrier, limits their deposition |
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Term
| Uniformitarianism (evidence based) |
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Definition
The physical, chemical, and
biological laws that operate today have also operated in the
geologic past |
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Term
| Catastrophism (bible based) |
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Definition
Mountains, canyons, and
other features were caused by sudden and often worldwide events
triggered by unknowable causes that no longer operate. (e.g. the
Biblical Flood) |
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Term
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Definition
remains or traces of organisms preserved from
the geologic past. |
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Term
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Definition
matching-up of two or more geologic
phenomena in different areas. |
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Term
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Definition
spontaneous breaking apart (decay) of
certain unstable atomic nuclei. |
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Term
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Definition
time required for half the atoms in a sample of a
radioactive isotope to decay. |
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Term
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Definition
members of a set of atoms of the same elements
whose nuclei contain the same number of protons (and thus are the
same element) but different numbers of neutrons. |
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Term
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Definition
is a basic unit of matter that consists of a dense central nucleus
surrounded by a cloud of negatively charged electrons |
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Term
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Definition
| is the force between two or more nucleons. |
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Term
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Definition
is the period of time it takes for the amount of a substance undergoing decay to
decrease by half. |
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Term
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Definition
is the conversion of one chemical element or isotope into
another |
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Term
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Definition
is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its
composition, structure and properties. |
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Term
| Matter may be defined as ... |
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Definition
anything that occupies space, possesses mass, offers
resistance and can be felt by one or more of our senses |
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Term
| A chemical reaction is a ... |
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Definition
process that leads to the transformation of one set of
chemical substances to another. |
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Term
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Definition
an attraction between atoms that allows the formation of chemical
substances that contain two or more atoms. |
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Term
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Definition
a form of matter that has constant chemical
composition and characteristic properties |
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Term
| Physical properties include |
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Definition
how the substance looks, smells, and
feels, e.g. its color, density, and hardness |
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Term
| Chemical properties describe |
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Definition
how a substance reacts with other
substances. |
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Term
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Definition
a change in a substance's physical properties
but with no change in its chemical identity, e.g. changes of state
(freezing, evaporating, etc.) |
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Term
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Definition
the formation of a new substance or
substances by changing chemical composition. |
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Term
| What is the half-life ofuraniun1-238? |
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Definition
4.5 billion years
(which, coincidently, is the approximate age of Earth and the solar
system). |
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Term
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Definition
| A chemical bond in which there is an electric force of attraction between two oppositely charged ions |
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Term
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Definition
| A chemical bond in which positively charged metal ions are held together within a "fluid" of loosely held electrons |
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Term
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Definition
| A chemical bond in which atoms are held together by their mutual attraction for two or more electrons they share |
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Term
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Definition
| Description of a chemical bond that has a dipole. In a polar bond or molecule, electrons are congregated to one side. This makes that side slightly negative, while the opposite side (lacking electrons) becomes slightly positive. |
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Term
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Definition
| The natural circulation of all states of water from ocean to atmosphere to land and then back to ocean |
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Term
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Definition
| The vertical drop in the elevation of a stream channel divided by the horizontal distance for that drop; the steepness of the slope |
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Term
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Definition
| A large mass of ice formed by the compaction and recystallization of snow, moving downslope under its own weight |
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Term
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Definition
an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow
or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another
water body, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean. |
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Term
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Definition
a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its
ablation (melting and sublimation) over many years, often centuries. |
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Term
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Definition
| the breaking down of rocks, soils and minerals as well as artificial materials through contact with the Earth's atmosphere, biota and waters. |
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Term
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Definition
the process by which materials are removed from the surface and transported to
another location. |
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