Question

Sophia was studying the history of Earth and came across a geologic timeline. She noticed that the time scale was different in a more recently published book and wondered why it was different. Explain why the geologic time scale can change.

A. New fossils are discovered
B. Advances in dating techniques
C. Geological events and discoveries
D. All of the above

Answer 1

The geologic time scale changes due to new fossil discoveries, improvements in dating techniques, and new geological events and discoveries, leading to updates that reflect the most current understanding of Earth's history.

Step-by-step explanation:

The geologic time scale is a framework used by scientists to describe the history of the Earth. The geologic time scale can change for several reasons:

• New fossils are discovered that provide more information about the past.
• Advances in dating techniques allow scientists to determine the ages of rocks and fossils more precisely.
• Geological events and discoveries could reveal new information about Earth's history.

Because ongoing research continuously produces new data about Earth's past, the geologic time scale is often updated to incorporate these findings. This includes changes in the environment, climate, and life forms that have occurred over the eons. As a result, the most current geologic time scale may differ from older publications as it reflects the most accurate understanding of Earth's history at the time.