EARTH SCIENCE REVIEW 4 SETS TOGETHER SUMMARY UPDATED FOR 2025 –
GUARANTEED PASS
uniformitarianism
the theory that changes in the earth's crust during geological history have resulted from the
action of continuous and uniform processes.
Law of Superposition
The top rock layer and its fossils is the youngest and the bottom is the oldest.
cross-cutting
refer to the geological interactions and relative timing between different features or structures
observed on planetary surfaces.
relationship
a connection, association, or involvement
Stratigraphy
The study of rock layers
fossils
Preserved remains of once-living organisms
index fossil
a fossil known to have lived in a particular geologic age that can be used to date the rock layer in
which it is found
fault
a crack in the earth's crust
relative dating
A technique used to determine which of two fossils is older
Pangea
term for the super continent which contained all the plates together
continental drift
, The hypothesis that states that the continents once formed a single landmass, broke up, and
drifted to their present locations
igneous rock
rock that forms when melted rock cools and hardens
sedimentary rock
a rock that forms from compressed or cemented layers of sediment
metamorphic rock
rock that has been changed by heat and pressure
erosion
Processes by which rock, sand, and soil are broken down and carried away (i.e. weathering,
glaciation)
lithospheric plates
A number of rigid, but moving, pieces of the Earth's surface.
earthquakes
sudden, violent movements of Earth's crust
geologic time scale
A record of the geologic events and life forms in Earth's history.
freezing
The change of state from a liquid to a solid
glacier
Any large mass of ice that moves slowly over land
ice core
A long cylinder of ice obtained from drilling through ice caps or ice sheets; used to study past
climates.
crust
Earth's outermost layer.
fracture
GUARANTEED PASS
uniformitarianism
the theory that changes in the earth's crust during geological history have resulted from the
action of continuous and uniform processes.
Law of Superposition
The top rock layer and its fossils is the youngest and the bottom is the oldest.
cross-cutting
refer to the geological interactions and relative timing between different features or structures
observed on planetary surfaces.
relationship
a connection, association, or involvement
Stratigraphy
The study of rock layers
fossils
Preserved remains of once-living organisms
index fossil
a fossil known to have lived in a particular geologic age that can be used to date the rock layer in
which it is found
fault
a crack in the earth's crust
relative dating
A technique used to determine which of two fossils is older
Pangea
term for the super continent which contained all the plates together
continental drift
, The hypothesis that states that the continents once formed a single landmass, broke up, and
drifted to their present locations
igneous rock
rock that forms when melted rock cools and hardens
sedimentary rock
a rock that forms from compressed or cemented layers of sediment
metamorphic rock
rock that has been changed by heat and pressure
erosion
Processes by which rock, sand, and soil are broken down and carried away (i.e. weathering,
glaciation)
lithospheric plates
A number of rigid, but moving, pieces of the Earth's surface.
earthquakes
sudden, violent movements of Earth's crust
geologic time scale
A record of the geologic events and life forms in Earth's history.
freezing
The change of state from a liquid to a solid
glacier
Any large mass of ice that moves slowly over land
ice core
A long cylinder of ice obtained from drilling through ice caps or ice sheets; used to study past
climates.
crust
Earth's outermost layer.
fracture
