Geologic Time Scale Exploration

1

Last Name First Name

1

Class Period

The fossil record documents patterns of diversification and extinction of organisms. Scientists, including biologists, paleontologists, geologists, and so on use the fossil record to recreate the history of this planet. Answer the following questions as you go through the on-line time scale exploration. Include appropriate units where necessary.  

>Go to the following link   http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/education/explorations/tours/geotime/ 
>Select "Student Start" - upper left of screen
>Continue through the program answering the following questions as you proceed

1

When did the formation of the earth and moon occur? _____years ago (ya)

type in the correct number given in the program

1

When did "Lucy" appear? ______ ya

type in the correct number given in the program

1

Using the timeline of the U.S History, describe the age of the Slinky using "relative dating". Which box does the slinky fit in?

1

Now, describe the age of the slinky in "absolute age". (enter the year)

1

Now, put the fossils in order using "relative dating". What is the relative age of Triceratops?

1

Use one word to describe what happens to the age of the rocks as you go deeper into the ground.

1

Where was the oldest layer of rocks?

1

Where was the youngest layer of rocks?

1

Using the Law of Superposition, put the following fossils in order from the oldest to most recent. Use a numbering system where "1" is the oldest.

Brachiopod - Eurypterid - Trilobite - Ammonite

1

What process do scientists use to determine the age of rock layers?

1

If we find the date of an upper layer of volcanic ash to be 468 million years ago (mya), and we find a lower layer to be 470 mya, which would be the correct age range for the layer with the fossil that we are interested in?

1

Put the following eras into chronological (age) order from the oldest to the most recent. Use "1" for the oldest and "3" for the youngest.
Cenozoic - Paleozoic - Mesozoic

1

Within the Phanerozoic, we see three major changes in biodiversity. These three sequences of time are referred to as Eras—the Paleozoic, the Mesozoic, and the Cenozoic.

1

Tell me a representative life form of the Paleozoic which is also used as a index fossil.

It starts with the letter "T"

1

Tell me the name of one of the abundant life forms during the Mesozoic.

1

Tell me the name of one of the life forms given in the program for the Cenozoic.

1

Each of the eras can be further divided into several periods. Tell me the evolutionary event that occurred during the Carboniferous Period.

1

The Carboniferous Period gave us the large layers of coal that we use today.

1

The Ginkgo tree is one of the ancient tree forms that exists today. It is a beautiful tree with very distinctive fan-shaped leaves. Ginkgoes are dioecious, meaning that there are male and female trees. Male trees are used for landscaping instead of female trees because female trees smell bad when they drop their seeds. What period does the Ginkgo appear in? (Note: the Ginkgo tree has been used in the landscaping around the new construction and renovations at OHS)

2

Look at one of the other Periods during the Paleozoic. Tell me the name of the Period and something you learned about it. (Hint: You won't be able to move to the next tab in the program until you click on all of the Periods.)

This question will be graded by the teacher, so it won't show instantly whether you have it correct or not.

1

Multiple Choice Quiz. There are 5 questions. After you complete the quiz, take a screen shot of your score and insert it into the "Show Your Work" space below. (You won't see a score for this question until the teacher grades it.)

After completing the program through number "10", you should see a page that looks like the page below.  Select "Explorations Through Time".

2

Select one of the "Explorations Through Time" and look at it. Tell me its name and something you learned while reading about it.

This will be graded by the teacher, so it won't show a score instantly.

2