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Fossils

This category is for questions about the bones, fragments, imprints, and other remainders from a different time. The questions and answer you will find here are history set in stone -- our past, immortalized in solid rock. You will also be able to find questions pertaining to the locations of these fossils, how you might identify them, and how they were formed.

500 Questions

What word refers to traces of an organism that existed in the past?

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Asked by Wiki User

A fossil is a trace of an organism that lived long ago.

Does radiocarbon dating determine the age of the earth?

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Asked by Wiki User

No, radiocarbon dating is used to determine the age of organic materials up to around 50,000 years old. To determine the age of Earth, scientists use other methods like uranium-lead dating of rocks or meteorites, which provide an estimate of about 4.5 billion years.

Why is radioactive decay a good method of measuring the absolute age of ancient fossils?

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Asked by Wiki User

Radioactive decay is a good method for dating fossils because it provides a reliable way to determine the age of a sample based on the decay of specific isotopes. By measuring the ratio of parent isotopes to daughter isotopes in a fossil, scientists can calculate the age of the fossil using the known half-life of the radioactive isotope. This method is consistent and doesn't rely on external factors that can affect other dating methods.

For what purpose is radiocarbon dating used?

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Asked by Wiki User

Radiocarbon dating is used to determine the age of organic materials, such as wood, bones, and shells, by measuring the amount of carbon-14 remaining in the sample. This helps archaeologists, anthropologists, and geologists to establish accurate timelines for events and artifacts in the past.

What is a worked example of carbon dating?

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Asked by Wiki User

Sure! Let's say we have a sample of a once-living material, like a piece of wood, and we want to determine its age using carbon dating. By measuring the ratio of carbon-14 to carbon-12 in the sample and comparing it to the known half-life of carbon-14 (about 5,730 years), we can calculate the approximate age of the sample. This method is effective for dating materials up to about 50,000 years old.

What is the difference between a fossil and an artifact?

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Asked by Wiki User

A fossil is the remains of a plant or animal that lived millions of years ago, while an artifact is an object made by humans, often with cultural or historical significance. Fossils provide insight into ancient life forms, while artifacts give clues about past human societies.

The number 14 of the process Carbon 14 dating denotes the amount of?

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Asked by Wiki User

The number 14 in Carbon 14 dating refers to the isotope of carbon, which has 6 protons and 8 neutrons. The amount of Carbon 14 present in a sample decreases over time through radioactive decay, allowing scientists to determine the age of organic materials.

Can carbon dating measure stone?

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Asked by Wiki User

Carbon dating is not effective for measuring the age of stone, as it is primarily used for dating organic materials containing carbon. Other methods such as thermoluminescence dating or uranium-lead dating are more suitable for dating inorganic materials like stone.

What new technologies were invented because of fossil fuels?

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Asked by Wiki User

Fossil fuels have driven the development of technologies such as internal combustion engines, which led to cars and airplanes. They also enabled the creation of electricity generation systems and the infrastructure for distributing electricity, such as power grids. Additionally, fossil fuels have supported the growth of industries like petrochemicals, plastics, and synthetic materials.

What are the three categories of footwear evidence?

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Asked by Wiki User

The three categories of footwear evidence are: impressions left in soft materials, such as soil or snow; wear patterns from the sole of the shoe on surfaces like floors or carpets; and physical characteristics unique to the shoe, like size, brand, or style.

What was Piltdown man?

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Asked by Wiki User

Piltdown Man was a hoax in which fossilized remains, found in England in 1912, were thought to be a missing link in human evolution. It was later revealed to be a forgery, made by combining a human skull with an orangutan jaw, and is not a valid part of the human evolutionary record.

Additional information needed for carbon dating?

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Asked by Wiki User

To perform carbon dating, we need a sample that contains organic material that was once alive, such as wood, bone, or charcoal. The sample must be carefully collected and preserved to avoid contamination. We also need to know the approximate age of the sample to determine the appropriate method and laboratory to use for analysis.

What is used to determine the age of organic remains?

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Asked by Wiki User

Carbon dating is commonly used to determine the age of organic remains by analyzing the ratio of carbon isotopes in a sample. By measuring the decay of radioactive carbon-14 in relation to stable carbon-12, scientists can estimate the age of the organic material.

What class and phylum do trilobites belong too?

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Asked by Wiki User

Trilobites belong to the class Trilobita and the phylum Arthropoda.

Why is it difficult to tell from fossil and archaeological evidence alone whether humans are the same species as the Neanderthals?

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Asked by Wiki User

It is difficult to determine from fossil and archaeological evidence alone whether humans are the same species as Neanderthals because the boundaries between species in the fossil record are not always clear-cut. There is evidence of interbreeding between humans and Neanderthals which suggests they could have belonged to the same species. Additionally, morphological differences can vary within a species, leading to uncertainty in classification.

Computerized analysis of the Lucy type fossil has?

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Asked by Sheebadog

revealed valuable insights about early human evolution. The fossil's unique characteristics have provided researchers with important information about the bipedalism and locomotion of our ancestors. Overall, the computerized analysis has enhanced our understanding of human origins.

What material cannot be fossilized?

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Asked by Wiki User

Materials that cannot be fossilized include materials that are not organic, such as plastic, glass, and metal. These materials do not contain the necessary organic compounds for fossilization to occur.

What are some Q and A about non renewable and renewable resources?

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Asked by Wiki User

  1. What are nonrenewable resources? Nonrenewable resources are natural resources that cannot be replenished within a short timeframe due to their limited quantity, such as coal, oil, and natural gas.

  2. What are renewable resources? Renewable resources are natural resources that can be replenished naturally over time, such as sunlight, wind, and biomass, making them sustainable for long-term use.

  3. Why are nonrenewable resources considered unsustainable? Nonrenewable resources are finite in quantity and take millions of years to form, making them unsustainable for continued use at the current rate of consumption, leading to concerns of depletion and environmental damage.

  4. How do renewable resources differ from nonrenewable resources in terms of environmental impact? Renewable resources generally have lower environmental impact compared to nonrenewable resources, as they produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions and have minimal pollution during extraction, production, and consumption.

Which was the first member of the genus homo to be found in the fossil record?

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Asked by Wiki User

The first member of the genus Homo found in the fossil record is Homo habilis, dating back about 2.3 to 1.4 million years ago. Homo habilis is considered one of the earliest human ancestors, known for its stone tool-making abilities.

How many years have dogs been around for?

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Asked by Wiki User

Dogs have been domesticated by humans for around 15,000-30,000 years, with the earliest evidence dating back to the last Ice Age.

Where are the locations of neanderthal fossils?

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Asked by Wiki User

Neanderthal fossils have been found in various locations across Europe, particularly in France, Spain, and Germany. They have also been discovered in the Middle East and parts of Asia. Sites like the Neander Valley in Germany and the Cave of Altamira in Spain are famous for their Neanderthal fossil discoveries.

Which fossil fuels are used in Australia?

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Asked by Wiki User

Australia primarily relies on coal, natural gas, and oil as its main fossil fuels. Coal is the most abundant and heavily used fossil fuel in the country, followed by natural gas and oil. These fossil fuels are used for electricity generation, transportation, and industrial processes in Australia.

What is the name of a person who studies fossil remains of plants and animals?

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Asked by Wiki User

A paleontologist studies fossilized remains of plants and animals.

What is the fossil of a footprint or burrow?

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Asked by Wiki User

A fossilized footprint or burrow is known as a trace fossil. Trace fossils provide evidence of ancient animal behavior and activities, such as walking, resting, or burrowing, preserved in the rock record. These fossils can help scientists reconstruct past environments and understand the behavior of ancient organisms.

What is a scientist who studies fossils?

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Asked by Wiki User

A scientist who studies fossils is called a paleontologist. They analyze fossils to understand past life forms, their environments, and evolutionary history.