EG - Vocab - Geologic time

Definitions

"Geologic time"
A nonspecific phrase used by earth scienists when referring to significant spans of time relative to the entire history of the Earth, usually referring to millions (not even thousands) of years relative to the 4.6 billion (4,600 million year) span of the Earth's existence.

This phrase geologic time is often used in the same way people refer to part of a lifetime, suggesting an unspecific span of time on the order of tens of years less than seventy years. For example - "Over geologic time, entire mountain ranges such as the Appalachians that were once as tall as the Rockies, have been eroded into hills.

Geologic time scale
A timeline associating specific events preserved in the Earth's rock record with actual dates (absolute dates). Sections of time on the geologic time scale are given different names like the days in the week, except the spans of time are not all the same in length of time and they do not repeat. The named time spans can be recognized in the rock record even before actual dates can be determined. The divisions usually, but not always, reflect major events in the Earth's history such as the K-T asteroid impact separating the Cretaceous from the Tertiary.

"Rock record"

Significant
Science involves finding significant patterns ... The most significant observation or deduction may not be ... That involves judgment based on a combination of experience (that gives you intuition), creative thinking and sometimes luck.

"On the order of"
TBA.

Magnitude
TBA.

Magnitude
TBA.

Note: Definitions are a work in progress.

"Movements of the Earth's crustal plates, which result in changes in the position, size, and shape of continents and oceans."
Galileo Journey to Jupiter, NASA
"... students should know about plate tectonics as a driving force that shapes Earth's surface."
Usage of the term in Science Framework, Standard Set 3. Dynamic Earth Processes
"The theory that the Earth's lithosphere consists of large, rigid plates that move horizontally in response to the flow of the asthenosphere beneath them, and that interactions among the plates at their borders cause most major geologic activity, including the creation of oceans, continents, mountains, volcanoes, and earthquakes."
Houghton Mifflin College Division Online Study Center

"Movements of the Earth's crustal plates, which result in changes in the position, size, and shape of continents and oceans."
Edward O. Wilson, ...

Is the Earth significantly younger than the Sun?
Are the planets significantly different in age?
The end of the Cretaceous, 65 million years ago, marked by the K-T asteroid impact marked the end of the Age of Reptiles and beginning of Age of Mammals. If the entire duration of the Earth's history were compressed into a week, on what day and what hour did the Tertiary begin?
When do fossils of early humans appear in the rock record?
What is the average lifespan of people today?
How many generations of people can you identify in your own family?
How many generations of people would have passed through even 1,000 years?

To see and compare several definitions of any word that interests you -
Type "define plate tectonics" in a Google search.



	Definitions Back Home "Geologic time" A nonspecific phrase used by earth scienists when referring to significant spans of time relative to the entire history of the Earth, usually referring to millions (not even thousands) of years relative to the 4.6 billion (4,600 million year) span of the Earth's existence. This phrase geologic time is often used in the same way people refer to part of a lifetime, suggesting an unspecific span of time on the order of tens of years less than seventy years. For example - "Over geologic time, entire mountain ranges such as the Appalachians that were once as tall as the Rockies, have been eroded into hills. Geologic time scale A timeline associating specific events preserved in the Earth's rock record with actual dates (absolute dates). Sections of time on the geologic time scale are given different names like the days in the week, except the spans of time are not all the same in length of time and they do not repeat. The named time spans can be recognized in the rock record even before actual dates can be determined. The divisions usually, but not always, reflect major events in the Earth's history such as the K-T asteroid impact separating the Cretaceous from the Tertiary. "Rock record" Significant Science involves finding significant patterns ... The most significant observation or deduction may not be ... That involves judgment based on a combination of experience (that gives you intuition), creative thinking and sometimes luck. "On the order of" TBA. Magnitude TBA. Magnitude TBA. Note: Definitions are a work in progress. Geologic time scales "Movements of the Earth's crustal plates, which result in changes in the position, size, and shape of continents and oceans." Galileo Journey to Jupiter, NASA "... students should know about plate tectonics as a driving force that shapes Earth's surface." Usage of the term in Science Framework, Standard Set 3. Dynamic Earth Processes "The theory that the Earth's lithosphere consists of large, rigid plates that move horizontally in response to the flow of the asthenosphere beneath them, and that interactions among the plates at their borders cause most major geologic activity, including the creation of oceans, continents, mountains, volcanoes, and earthquakes." Houghton Mifflin College Division Online Study Center How scientists get ideas "Movements of the Earth's crustal plates, which result in changes in the position, size, and shape of continents and oceans." Edward O. Wilson, ... Questions for thought Is the Earth significantly younger than the Sun? Are the planets significantly different in age? The end of the Cretaceous, 65 million years ago, marked by the K-T asteroid impact marked the end of the Age of Reptiles and beginning of Age of Mammals. If the entire duration of the Earth's history were compressed into a week, on what day and what hour did the Tertiary begin? When do fossils of early humans appear in the rock record? What is the average lifespan of people today? How many generations of people can you identify in your own family? How many generations of people would have passed through even 1,000 years? Web ideas To see and compare several definitions of any word that interests you - Type "define plate tectonics" in a Google search.