Question

Match each law or principle to its description. 1. law of original horizontality 3 The youngest strata is at the top and the oldest is at the bottom. 2. law of superposition 1 Sediment gets pulled down by gravity in a horizontal and flat layer. 3. law of original lateral continuity 4 If there is a fracture or intrusive feature seen in rock strata, it is younger than the rock strata. 4. law of cross-cutting or intrusive relationships 2 Sediment continues to spread in a flat plane until it hits an edge or runs out of material.

Answer 1

The correct match of each law or principle to its description are;

1) Law of original horizontality: Sediment gets pulled down by gravity in a horizontal and flat layer.

2) Theory of Superposition: The youngest strata is on the top and the oldest is at the bottom.

3) Law of Original Lateral Continuity: Sediment continues to spread in a flat plane until it hits an edge or runs out of material.

4) Law of Cross-Cutting or Intrusive relationships: If there is a fracture or intrusive feature seen in a rock strata, it is younger than the rock strata.

The law of original horizontality was proposed by Nicholas Steno in the 17th century. The law states that layers of sediment are originally deposited horizontally under the action of gravity.

The theory of superposition explains that for all linear systems, the actual response created by two or more stimuli is the total responses that would have been created by each stimulus individually.

The principle of lateral continuity explains that layers of sediment are laterally continuous and because of this, rocks that are the same, but are now separated by an erosional feature, can be presumed to also be originally continuous.

Answer 2

1) Law of original horizontality: Sediment gets pulled down by gravity in a horizontal and flat layer.

2) Theory of Superposition: The youngest strata is on the top and the oldest is at the bottom.

3) Law of Original Lateral Continuity: Sediment continues to spread in a flat plane until it hits an edge or runs out of material.

4) Law of Cross-Cutting or Intrusive relationships: If there is a fracture or intrusive feature seen in a rock strata, it is younger than the rock strata.