Assigning a specific date to a rock, which is measured in years before present, is known as ____.
A) relative dating
B) absolute dating
C) superposition
D) carbon dating
E) fossil succession

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Absolute dating is the process of assigning a specific numerical age to a rock or fossil, usually measured in years before present. Relative dating is the process of determining the relative order of past events without necessarily determining their absolute age. Superposition is the principle that in an undisturbed rock sequence, the oldest layer is at the bottom and the youngest layer is at the top. Carbon dating is a type of absolute dating that uses the decay of carbon-14 to determine the age of organic materials. Fossil succession is the principle that fossils succeed each other in a defined, predictable order, allowing geologists to determine the age of sedimentary rocks based on their fossil content.

Assigning a Specific Date to a Rock, Which Is Measured