Which statement describes the relative age of a fossil that has formed inside a layer of rock? (1 point)
The fossil is older than the layer of rock it was formed in.
• The fossil is younger than the layer of rock right above it.
• The fossil is older than the layer of rock right below it.
• The fossil is younger than the layer of rock it was formed in.
The fossil is younger than the layer of rock it was formed in.
The correct statement is: The fossil is older than the layer of rock it was formed in.
The correct statement that describes the relative age of a fossil that has formed inside a layer of rock is:
"The fossil is older than the layer of rock right below it."
To understand why this statement is true, we need to rely on the principles of relative dating. Relative dating allows us to determine the age of a fossil or rock layer relative to other fossils or rock layers.
In this case, the fossil is found within a specific layer of rock. When a fossil is found inside a layer of rock, it means that the fossil must have formed after the deposition of the layer of rock below it and before the deposition of the layer of rock above it.
So, the layer of rock below the fossil must have formed first, and therefore, the fossil is older than the layer of rock right below it. However, the layer of rock above the fossil must have formed after the fossil's formation, making the fossil younger than the layer of rock right above it.
Therefore, the correct statement is that the fossil is older than the layer of rock right below it.