Rock A has pieces of Rock B included inside it. Which rock is older and how do you know?
My answer- I know rock B is older but I don't know how to explain it. Can someone help?
Rock B must have been there first as rock A formed around it. Check my thinking.
To determine which rock is older, you can use the principles of relative dating. Relative dating methods rely on the assumption that rocks located below other rocks are usually older than those rocks above them, based on the principle of superposition.
In the given scenario, if Rock A has pieces of Rock B included inside it, it suggests that Rock A must have formed after Rock B. This is because the process of including pieces of one rock inside another, known as inclusion, can only occur when the second rock (Rock B) already exists.
Another principle to consider is the principle of cross-cutting relationships. It states that if a rock or a feature cuts across another rock or feature, it must be younger than the rock or feature it cuts across. If Rock A contains pieces of Rock B, it means that Rock A must be younger than Rock B because it has cut through and incorporated fragments of Rock B.
Therefore, based on the principles of inclusion and cross-cutting relationships, Rock A is younger than Rock B.