Final answer:
The geological time scale spans very long periods of time and is crucial for understanding the formation of Earth's features.
Step-by-step explanation:
In geology, the concept of geological time scale refers to the vast span of time that is involved in the formation of landscapes, rocks, and the movement of continents. It is an important scientific question as different hypotheses about the age of the Earth can change our understanding of geologic events. If the geologic time is relatively short, catastrophic events would be required to form the features we see today. On the other hand, a vast amount of time allows for slow and steady changes.
For example, if the geological time scale is short, it would imply that the Grand Canyon formed quickly due to a catastrophic event like a global flood. However, if the geological time scale is long, it would suggest that the formation of the Grand Canyon happened gradually over millions of years due to slow erosion.
In summary, the geological time scale spans very long periods of time and it is crucial for understanding the formation of Earth's features while observing the geologic events that shaped our planet.