Question
How does the law of superposition help determine the age of fossils compared to others?
Answer
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Noel
Master · Tutor for 5 years
Answer
The Law of Superposition helps determine the relative age of fossils by stating that in a sequence of sedimentary rock layers, the oldest layer is at the bottom and the layers get progressively younger as you move upwards. Therefore, a fossil found in a lower layer is older than a fossil found in an upper layer. This law allows scientists to create a relative timeline of life on Earth.
Explanation
## Step 1: Understanding the Law of SuperpositionThe Law of Superposition is a key principle in geology that states that in a sequence of sedimentary rock layers, the oldest layer is at the bottom and the layers get progressively younger as you move upwards. This law is based on the concept that new sedimentary layers are deposited over older layers.## Step 2: Application of the Law of Superposition in Fossil DatingWhen it comes to fossils, the Law of Superposition is extremely useful. As organisms die, their remains can become embedded in the sediment that will eventually form sedimentary rock. Over time, more layers of sediment accumulate on top of the layer containing the organism's remains, preserving the remains as a fossil. ## Step 3: Determining Relative Ages of FossilsBy examining the layers of sedimentary rock, scientists can determine the relative ages of the fossils contained within the layers. If a fossil is found in a layer of sedimentary rock that is beneath another layer containing a different fossil, the fossil in the lower layer is older. Conversely, the fossil in the upper layer is younger. This allows scientists to create a relative timeline of life on Earth based on the fossil record.