Which describes the law of superposition used to find the relative age of fossils in rocks?
Fossils in bottom layers are older than fossils in top layers.
Fossils were formed during a time when chemical processes operated differently.
Fossils inside a layer of a rock are older than the surrounding rocks.
Fossils of the same organism found at different locations formed in similar climates
The correct answer is: Fossils in bottom layers are older than fossils in top layers.
The law of superposition states that fossils in bottom layers are older than fossils in top layers.
The law of superposition, which is used to find the relative age of fossils in rocks, states that fossils in bottom layers are older than fossils in top layers. To understand how this law works, it is essential to know a few key concepts.
First, sedimentary rocks are formed through a process called deposition. Over time, layers of sediment such as sand, mud, or organic matter accumulate on the Earth's surface. These layers pile up one on top of another, with the newest layer formed on top of older layers.
Next, fossils are the traces or remains of ancient organisms that have been preserved in the rock. When an organism dies, its remains may become buried in sediment before they decompose. Through the process of fossilization, the remains can be preserved over millions of years.
Using the law of superposition, geologists can determine the relative age of fossils in rocks by examining their vertical position within the rock layers. The basic principle is that older rocks are found at the bottom, while younger rocks are found on top. As a result, fossils found in lower layers are typically older than those found in upper layers.
To determine the relative age of fossils further, scientists often use other dating methods, such as radiometric dating, which calculates the absolute age by measuring the decay of radioactive isotopes in the rock or fossil.
In summary, the correct description of the law of superposition used to find the relative age of fossils in rocks is that fossils in bottom layers are older than fossils in top layers.