Ever wondered how scientists piece together the history of our planet without knowing exact ages? That's where relative dating comes in! Forget precise numbers; relative dating is all about determining the *order* in which events occurred. Think of it like stacking pancakes. The one on the bottom was made first, and the one on top was made last.
In geology, we use principles like the Law of Superposition, which states that in undisturbed rock layers, the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest are at the top. We also look at things like cross-cutting relationships (if a fault cuts through a rock layer, the fault is younger than the layer) and fossil evidence. By carefully observing these clues, we can create a timeline of Earth's history, even without absolute dates. Relative dating is the essential first step in understanding our planet's fascinating past!
