G103/203

Student learning outcomes: Chapter 17 GEOLOGIC TIME

1. Describe how early geologists attempted to determine the age of the earth. Explain why each technique failed.

2. Describe the contributions of George Cuvier and William Smith to the development of the geologic systems.

3. Describe the development of the "geologic systems" and geologic column. Know what they represent and how they are useful.

4. Describe the development of "geologic time units." What do they represent and how are they used? How are they grouped together and how are they divided?

5. Differentiate between relative and absolute time and age dating techniques.

6. Understand how each of the following principles of relative time are used:

a. original horizontality d. cross cutting relationships

b. superposition e. correlation

c. lateral conintuity f. inclusions

7. Know what is meant by:

a. fossil assemblage d. overlapping fossil ranges

b. index fossil e. unconformable

c. faunal (fossil) succession f. conformable

8. Differentiate between the following types of unconformities:

a. angular unconformity b. disconformity c. nonconformity

9. Understand the principle of radioactive "half-life" and how it works.

10. Differentiate between alpha and beta emission and electron capture.

11. Know the standard geologic time scale: the eras, periods, epochs; and know:

The dates dividing the eras (540 mil, 248 mil, 65 mil)

the age of the earth

the age of the Tertiary and Quaternary boundary (1.8 mil)

(see the class web page for a copy of the time table I will expect you to reproduce and use)

12. What are some of the limitations of radiometric dating and what is meant by a closed system?

13. Understand how dendrochronology and carbon 14 dating work and what the limitations are for each

14. What is stratigraphy?

15. Be able to explain what lithostratigraphic, biostratigraphic and time stratographic units are, how they are different from each other and how they are used by geologists.

G203:

Student learning outcomes: Chapter 18 Evolution Note…we will not talk about this chapter in lecture but you will be given homework assignments and quiz questions on this information.

1) Understand how biological evidence supports evolution. (i.e. what are homologeous, analogous and vestigial structures)

2) What is:

Allopatric speciation

Phyletic gradualism

Punctuated equilibrium

3) How is divergent , convergent and parallel evolution different from each other.

4) What is the difference between background extinction and mass extinction