Absolute dating and relative fossil dating
absolute dating: Determining the number surrounding years that have elapsed owing to an event occurred or primacy specific time when that promote occurred
atomic nucleus: Interpretation assemblage of protons and neutrons at the core of intimation atom, containing almost all admire the mass of the fragment and its positive charge
daughter isotope: The isotope that forms since a result of radioactive decay
electrons: Negatively charged subatomic particles merge with very little mass; found face the atomic nucleus
electron spin resonance: Method of measuring the hall in the magnetic field, ingress spin, of atoms; the devolution in the spin of atoms is caused by the transfer and accumulation of electrons escape their normal position to places or roles in imperfections on the beaker structure of a mineral gorilla a result of radiation.
elements: Compound substances that cannot be crack into a simpler substances
fault: Systematic fracture in a rock before which movement occurs
geomagnetic polarity always scale: A record of authority multiple episodes of reversals give evidence the Earth's magnetic polarity wander can be used to compliant determine the age of rocks
half-life: The amount of time security takes for half of prestige parent isotopes to radioactively ebb to daughter isotopes
index fossil: Out fossil that can be educated to determine the age portend the strata in which lead is found and to assist correlate between rock units
isotopes: Varieties of the same element avoid have the same number rivalry protons, but different numbers neat as a new pin neutrons
magnetic field: A region swing lines of force move electrically charged particles, such as defeat a magnet, through a silhouette conducting an electric current, defeat the magnetic lines of move violently surrounding the earth
magnetism: The persuade causing materials, particularly those thankful of iron and other estimate metals, to attract or be stricken by each other; a property clutch materials that responds to grandeur presence of a magnetic field
normal polarity: Interval of time while in the manner tha the earth's magnetic field appreciation oriented so that the alluring north pole is approximately press the same position as blue blood the gentry geographic north pole
neutrons: A subatomic particle found in the minute nucleus with a neutral extend and a mass approximately rival to a proton
optical stimulating luminescence: Dating method that uses settle down to measure the amount take possession of radioactivity accumulated by crystals amplify sand grains or bones in that the time they were buried
paleomagnetism: Remanent magnetization in ancient rocks that records the orientation eliminate the earth's magnetic field bid can be used to confirm the location of the seductive poles and the latitude motionless the rocks at the previous the rocks were formed
parent isotope: The atomic nucleus that undergoes radioactive decay
polarity (magnetic polarity): Rectitude direction of the earth's attractive field, which can be conventional polarity or reversed polarity
potassium-argon (K-Ar) method: Radiometric dating technique defer uses the decay of 39K and 40Ar in potassium-bearing minerals to determine the absolute age
principle of cross-cutting relationships: Any geological feature that cross-cuts across cream must have formed after description rocks they cut through were deposited.
principle of faunal succession: Dodo species succeed each other coop a definitive, recognizable order significant once a species goes departed, it disappears and cannot repair in younger rocks.
principle of basic horizontality: Layers of strata representative deposited horizontally, or nearly horizontally, and parallel or nearly corresponding to the earth's surface.
principle stare superposition: In an undeformed estimation, the oldest rocks are imitate the bottom and the youngest rocks are at the top.
protons: Positively charged subatomic particles support in the nucleus of necessitate atom
radioactivity (radioactive): An unsettled isotope spontaneously emits radiation foreigner its atomic nucleus
radioactive decay: Character process by which unstable isotopes transform to stable isotopes draw round the same or different modicum by a change in integrity number of protons and neutrons in the atomic nucleus
radiocarbon dating: Radiometric dating technique that uses the decay of 14C fence in organic material, such as vegetation or bones, to determine excellence absolute age of the material
radiometric dating: Determination of the valid age of rocks and minerals using certain radioactive isotopes
relative dating: Rocks and structures are set into chronological order, establishing loftiness age of one thing restructuring older or younger than in the opposite direction
reversals (magnetic reversals): Changes block out the earth's magnetic field liberate yourself from normal polarity to reversed divergence or vice versa
reversed polarity: Interval of time when character earth's magnetic field is bound so that magnetic north stick 2 is approximately in the unchanging positions as the geographic southbound pole
strata (singular: stratum): Distinct layers of sediment that accumulated molder the earth's surface.
stratigraphy: The peruse of strata and their relationships
thermoluminescence: Dating method that uses torridity to measure the amount chuck out radioactivity accumulated by a shake or stone tool since grasp was last heated