SC303. Deep Time and How We Know the Age of the Earth Geologists understand the passage of time in two ways, relative age and absolute age. Relative age dating is observed by examining different sedimentary rock layers stacked on top of each other with the oldest ones at the bottom and youngest on top. The spectacular Grand Canyon is our very best example that everyone knows. This course will utilize the recently published book, The Grand Canyon, Monument to an Ancient Earth: Can Noah's Flood Explain the Grand Canyon? Absolute ages are derived from counting some type of layers, such as annual snowfall observed in ice cores, or annual sediment layers in lakes (called varves), or the annual growth of tree rings (known as dendrochronology). Absolute ages also come from radiometric dating methods such as radiocarbon dating of bones and wood, and radioactive decay of atoms in igneous rocks. This course will provide one or more exercises that teachers can do with students.