Geological Time Scale

The geological time scale is a system of chronological dating that relates geological strata to time. It is used by geologists, paleontologists, and other Earth scientists to describe the timing and relationships between events that have occurred during the Earth's history.

Eras of the Geological Time Scale

The geological time scale is divided into several eras, each of which is further divided into periods and epochs. The major divisions of the geological time scale are:

Key Concepts

There are several key concepts to understand when studying the geological time scale:

Relative Dating: This is the process of determining the relative order of past events without determining their absolute age. It is based on the law of superposition, which states that in any undisturbed sequence of rock layers, the youngest layer is on top and the oldest is on the bottom.
Absolute Dating: This is the process of determining an age on a specified chronology in archaeology and geology.
Index Fossils: These are fossils of organisms that lived for a relatively short period of time and are used by geologists to correlate the age of rock layers.

Study Tips

When studying the geological time scale, consider the following tips:

Memorize the major divisions of the time scale, including the eras and their respective periods and epochs.
Understand the principles of relative and absolute dating, and how they are used to determine the age of rock layers and fossils.
Be familiar with index fossils and their significance in correlating the ages of rock layers.
Practice using the geological time scale to interpret the timing and relationships between geological and biological events throughout Earth's history.

With a solid understanding of the geological time scale, you will be better equipped to interpret the Earth's history and the changes that have occurred over millions of years.

◂Chemistry Worksheets and Study Guides High School. The Science of Chemistry

Worksheet/Answer key

The Science of Chemistry

Worksheet/Answer key

The Science of Chemistry

Worksheet/Answer key

The Science of Chemistry

The resources above cover the following skills:

Nature of Science

The Practice of Science - A: Scientific inquiry is a multifaceted activity; The processes of science include the formulation of scientifically investigable questions, construction of investigations into those questions, the collection of appropriate data, the evaluation of the meaning of those data, and the communication of this evaluation. B: The processes of science frequently do not correspond to the traditional portrayal of ''the scientific method.'' C: Scientific argumentation is a necessary part of scientific inquiry and plays an important role in the generation and validation of scientific knowledge. D: Scientific knowledge is based on observation and inference; it is important to recognize that these are very different things. Not only does science require creativity in its methods and processes, but also in its questions and explanations.

Define a problem based on a specific body of knowledge, for example: biology, chemistry, physics, and earth/space science, and do the following:

Use tools to gather, analyze, and interpret data (this includes the use of measurement in metric and other systems, and also the generation and interpretation of graphical representations of data, including data tables and graphs)

Geological Time Scale

Eras of the Geological Time Scale

Key Concepts

Study Tips

[Geological Time Scale] Related Worksheets and Study Guides:

◂Chemistry Worksheets and Study Guides High School. The Science of Chemistry

The resources above cover the following skills: