The Landform Diagram Quiz

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What is the main principle of geology that helps scientists understand the past?

Uniformitarianism

What is a landform diagram?

A drawn cross-section of a landform that shows the layers that form it

What are some key terms that help us understand landform diagrams?

Uniformitarianism, the law of original horizontally, the law of superposition, crosscutting relations, and unconformities

What does uniformitarianism mean?

The idea that the present is the key to the past, and that natural laws have remained the same throughout the history of the earth Signup and view all the answers

How can a landform diagram help us understand a landform?

By showing the order of geologic events that created it and how it has changed over time Signup and view all the answers

What does the law of superposition state?

In a sequence of undisturbed sedimentary rocks, the oldest rocks are at the bottom and the youngest rocks are at the top Signup and view all the answers

What is the law of original horizontality?

The law of original horizontality states that sedimentary rocks are originally formed in horizontal layers. Signup and view all the answers

What is the law of superposition?

The law of superposition states that in any undisturbed sequence of layers of rock, the oldest or first-deposited layer would be on the bottom and the youngest would be on the top. Signup and view all the answers

What is the principle of crosscutting relations?

The principle of crosscutting relations states that any rock or fault that cuts across other rocks is younger than those it cuts across. Signup and view all the answers

What are unconformities?

Unconformities are surfaces of erosion that separate younger rocks from older ones. Signup and view all the answers

What are some possible causes of unconformities?

Unconformities can occur because of wind, water, or friction when other rocks scrape along them, like when a glacier slides over the landform. Signup and view all the answers

According to the law of original horizontality and the law of superposition, what happened first in the given landform diagram?

According to the law of original horizontality and the law of superposition, the layers of rock were laid down first, followed by the folding and bending of the layers. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main idea of geology?

The main idea of geology is uniformitarianism, which states that the present is the key to the past, or that we can deduce what happened in the past by observing how things work today. Signup and view all the answers

What are the four key ideas that help us determine the order of events in a landform diagram?

The four key ideas are the law of original horizontality, the law of superposition, crosscutting relations, and unconformities. Signup and view all the answers

What does the law of original horizontality state?

The law of original horizontality states that rock layers are originally deposited horizontally. Signup and view all the answers

What does the law of superposition state?

The law of superposition states that in an undisturbed sequence of rock layers, the youngest rocks are on top and the oldest rocks are on the bottom. Signup and view all the answers

What are crosscutting relations?

Crosscutting relations refer to the principle that a rock or geologic feature that cuts across another rock or feature is younger than the rock or feature it cuts across. Signup and view all the answers

What is an unconformity?

An unconformity is a surface of erosion or non-deposition that represents a gap in the geologic record. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two reasons that indicate layers 6 and 7 were deposited last?

The two reasons are that the tube of magma does not continue past the unconformity and that layers 6 and 7 are on top of the formation. Signup and view all the answers

How do the four key ideas of geology help determine the geologic progression of a landscape?

The four key ideas help geologists determine events that have occurred long ago and develop some ideas about the order of events that helped shape our landscape. Signup and view all the answers