Relative Dating Fossils Worksheet
Explore the principles of relative dating using fossils and geologic layers for grade 9 science students.
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Relative Dating Fossils
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Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability. Refer to the provided diagrams and your knowledge of relative dating principles.
1. Which principle states that in an undisturbed sequence of sedimentary rocks, 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 index fossil is useful for relative dating if it possesses which of the following characteristics?
Long geological range and limited geographic distribution
Short geological range and limited geographic distribution
Short geological range and wide geographic distribution
Long geological range and wide geographic distribution
3. The Principle of Original states that layers of sediment are originally deposited horizontally.
4. A break in the geologic record created when rock layers are eroded or when sediment is not deposited for a long period of time is called an .
5. Observe the diagram below. Arrange the rock layers and geological events from oldest to youngest. Justify your answer using principles of relative dating.
6. The Principle of Cross-Cutting Relationships states that a fault or intrusion is younger than the rocks it cuts through.
True
False
7. Fossils found in higher rock layers are generally older than those found in lower rock layers.
True
False
8. Explain how the Principle of Faunal Succession is used in relative dating to correlate rock layers across different locations. Provide an example of how an index fossil would be used.
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