DISTANCE AND TIME SCALES IN GEOLOGY OFTEN DIFFER FROM THOSE IN DAILY LIFE

DISTANCE - TYPICAL SCALES ARE THOSE OF EARTH

(RADIUS 6371 KM); PLATE THICKNESS (100 KM); TOPOGRAPHY (0-10 KM)

TIME - MILLIONS TO BILLIONS OF YEARS

ABSOLUTE AGES FROM RADIOACTIVE DECAY

RELATIVE AGES FROM ROCK STRATA AND FOSSILS