Which of the following terms is used to describe the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by releasing radiation?
Radioactive stabilization
Radioactive decay
Radioactive explosion
Radiocentric decay
A scientist would not be able to use radiocarbon dating to find the age of which of the following samples?
Stone from a 1,000-year-old settlement
Wood from a 2,000-year-old settlement
Tissue from a human body found in 16th-century burial
Cloth from an ancient garment found in 500-year-old burial
The best conditions for preservation of soft tissues are _____ temperatures and _____ air.
warm; dry
cold; dry
warm; humid
cold; humid
Rapid burial protects a deceased body from all of the following EXCEPT:
trampling
weathering
temperature fluctuations
mud
Which of the following would NOT be a good trait for an index fossil?
It is found in only one place in the world.
It is found in only a small portion of geologic history.
It is easy to tell which species it is.
It is difficult to miss when looking for fossils.
If Sedimentary Layer A occurs above Sedimentary Layer C and Sedimentary Layer B is below Sedimentary Layer C, which of the following is the correct order of the layers (from oldest to youngest)?
C, B, A
B, C, A
C, A, B
A, B, C
The statement Rock A is seventeen years old is an example of _____.
radiometric dating
numerical dating
strata dating
relative dating
Why do many geologists study layers of strata?
They want to learn more about the history of the Earth.
They hope to discover Greek-era ruins.
They are interested in the exploitation of fossil fuels.
They are interested in determining how dinosaurs went extinc
