Relative Dating of Fossils Worksheet
Explore the principles of relative dating to determine the age of fossils and rock layers in this Grade 10 Science worksheet.
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Relative Dating of Fossils
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Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability. Refer to your knowledge of relative dating principles.
1. Which principle states that in an undisturbed sequence of sedimentary rock layers, the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest are at the top?
Principle of Cross-Cutting Relationships
Principle of Superposition
Principle of Original Horizontality
Principle of Faunal Succession
2. An igneous intrusion cuts through several layers of sedimentary rock. According to the Principle of Cross-Cutting Relationships, which is older?
The igneous intrusion
The sedimentary rock layers
They are the same age
Cannot be determined
3. The Principle of Original states that sedimentary layers are originally deposited in horizontal layers.
4. Index fossils are useful for relative dating because they lived for a period of time and were geographically .
5. Observe the diagram of sedimentary rock layers below. Arrange the layers from oldest to youngest, and explain your reasoning.
Oldest:
Middle:
Youngest:
Reasoning:
6. Unconformities represent gaps in the geological record.
True
False
7. Relative dating can determine the exact numerical age of a fossil.
True
False
8. What is the Principle of Faunal Succession and how is it used in relative dating?