Assignment I&J

Geologic Time and origin and evolution of life

1) What is the difference between absolute and relative time in the sense of
geological time?

Relative time are subdivisions of the Earth's geology in a specific order based upon relative age
relationships (most commonly, vertical/stratigraphic position). These subdivisions are given
names, most of which can be recognized globally, usually on the basis of fossils and Absolute time
are numerical ages in "millions of years" or some other measurement. These are most commonly
obtained via radiometric dating methods performed on appropriate rock types. So Think of relative
time as physical subdivisions of the rock found in the Earth's stratigraphy, and absolute time as the
measurements taken upon those to determine the actual time which has expired. Absolute time
measurements can be used to calibrate the relative time scale, producing an integrated geologic or
"geochronologic" time scale.

2) Take the age of the Earth and put it in one day! Tell me how many hours or
minutes or seconds of this day exist the human being considering that humans
started to be in Late Miocene, in the beginning of the Messinian age?
The late Miocene was about 6 million years ago, so the hominids have existed for 1.90
minutes
3) Do the same for the time period dinosaurs existed!
The time period that dinosaurs existed was 183 million years, 57.9 minutes of a day
4) Name at least one way how a species can survive without sunlight and
oxygen!

5) Since which age do we have any evidence for water on earth?

The oldest evidence of liquid water on Earth was about 4.3 billions years ago
6) Name five different methods to date rocks or minerals?
Uranium-lead dating, Uranium-thorium dating, rubidium-strontium dating, potassium-argon
dating, Varve Analysis, Thermoluminescence, Potassium-Argon Method.

7) Which are the two main periods in the Cenozoic?

The Cenozoic is divided into two main sub-divisions: the Tertiary and
the Quaternary

8) What is the reason for the different eras or periods? I mean why do last some
eras or periods longer than others? What provokes the changes?
The reason for have different eras or periods is to limit periods of time that generally are long
of millions of years, this periods of time correspond to important geologic and biologic
processes. Limits correspond with major, global crustal events, changes in sea level and
climate, or biotic changes.Some of the periods are shorter than others because some of the
geologic or biologic process could cause an important or significative event, change, etc. And
this event can start a new period.

9) Which species ruled in the Paleozoic?

Many animals with no backbones lived in the shallow seas. These animals were invertebrates.

10) Which in the Mesozoic?

The animals that developed in the Mesozoic needed new body types to survive the extremes of
temperature and moisture. Amphibians developedrespiratory mechanisms that allowed them to live
in or out of the water for extended periods of time. But it was the reptiles that were better adapted
to the warmer dryer conditions. They developed thick, leathery skin on both their own bodies and
their eggs. The reptiles thrived, dominating the landscape in both size and numbers. The dinosaurs
evolved from these reptiles and were themselves diapsids. During the Jurassic and Cretaceous
Periods the dinosaurs ruled the earth.

11) Which in the Cenozoic?

The last and most recent of the geologic periods is the Cenozoic Era. Its name means new
life coming from the Greek root kainos, meaning new, and zoic, life. While this new life
came to refer to mammals-thus coined The Age of Mammals- this new life could have just as
easily been the angiosperm or flowering plants, the insects, the newest fish (teleostei) or
modern birds. All of these groups, including the mammals, continued to evolve during this
present Era.

12) What is older? The Triassic or the Cambrian?

Cambrian is older than Triassic
13) The Triassic or the Silurian?
Silurian
14) What is your favorite dinosaur and why?
Is the Edmontonian because its body is convert with a tank like armor and
that is very cool
15) Name five potential explanations for the extinction of dinosaurs!
Climatic chances
Asteroid impact on Earth
Chances within the oceans
Volcanism
Illness or parasites