| Questions | 5 |
| Topics | Geologic Time Scale, Neutron, Power, Types of Rock |
The Earth is approximately 4.6 billion years old and its history is divided into time periods based on the events that took place and the forms of life that were dominant during those periods. The largest graduation of time is the eon and each eon is subdivided into eras, eras into periods, periods into epochs, and epochs into ages.
A neutron is a subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom. It is neutral as it carries no electric charge.
Power is the rate at which work is performed or work per unit time: \(P = {w \over t}\) and is measured in watts (W).
The Earth's rocks fall into three categories based on how they're formed. Igneous rock (granite, basalt, obsidian) is formed from the hardening of molten rock (lava), sedimentary rock (shale, sandstone, coal) is formed by the gradual despositing and cementing of rock and other debris, and metamorphic rock (marble, slate, quartzite) which is formed when existing rock is altered though pressure, temperature, or chemical processes.