In the seventeenth century, Archbishop James Ussher of Ireland ...

[go.lag]

In the seventeenth century, Archbishop James Ussher of Ireland used the Bible to calculate that the Earth was created in 4004 b.c.e. Imagine you could take Archbishop Ussher to Niagara Falls.
 
  Although Niagara Falls is located on the border between the United States and Canada today, it was located several kilometers to the north at the Niagara Escarpment and is eroding southward. Let's assume the rate of erosion is 50 cm/yr. Assuming the distance from the Niagara Escarpment to Niagara Falls is 11 km, use the equation Rate = Distance/Time to calculate how long it would have taken to erode from the Escarpment to the current location of the falls. How would this calculation compare with Archbishop Ussher's assessment of the age of the Earth?
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Urban sprawl has resulted in
 
  A) wildlife habitat fragmentation.
  B) decreased reliance on fossil fuels.
  C) decreased production of greenhouse gases.
  D) increased dependence on family farms for food.

[AngeliqueG]

Answer to Question 1

Answer: Rewriting the Rate Equation so that Time = Distance/Rate:
11 km = 1,100,000 cm
Time = 1,100,000 cm/50 cm per year = 22,000 years
It took 22,000 years to erode the material, not to mention the fact that it would take time to deposit the rock before the river could erode it. These numbers, supported by geologic evidence, prove Ussher's age of the Earth is too young.

Answer to Question 2

A

[go.lag]

Wow, this really help

[bdobbins]

Great answer, keep it coming