Geologic Time Worksheet

Associate Level Material Mary Miles

Geologic Time Worksheet

Use the following table to compare ways of evaluating geologic time. Your description, similarities, and differences must each be at least 50 words.

|Time Evaluation Method |Description |Advantages of this Method |Disadvantages of this Method |
|Relative dating |Relative dating is the process |There are a few advantages of |The disadvantage to relative |
| |of estimating the order of |relative dating. One is that |dating is that an exact time |
| |events but not necessarily |this is an estimate of the age |cannot be given to a rock |
| |determining when the events |of a structure. Meaning that |structure or fossil. This method|
| |occurred. When looking at rocks |there is room for error. This |is only an estimate and because |
| |and fossils the deeper the |method is good if weathering or |of that the true time in which a|
| |structure or fossil the older it|erosion is prevalent. Because |rock structure or fossil was |
| |is. During this process there is|some of the rock structure is |started or deposited cannot be |
| |not exact age or date that is |missing or interrupted exact age|determined. |
| |given to a rock or fossil only |would not be able to be found. | |
| |an estimate of when it stated or| | |
| |was alive. | | |
|Absolute