How might the geologist estimate how long it took to deposit the sediment seen in the rock layers?

They can tell by what type of fossils there are

Explanation:Identification of the minerals in a rock is the first thing you do. You can do it in some highly granular rocks with nothing more than a magnifying hand lens. This is called hand specimen examination. This a qualitative analysis.

the electromagnetic energy from the sun arrives in the form of visible and invisible light.

you didn't give any options but heres what i can tell you: an inference is likely to change based on additional observations. the latter is something that you have seen or sensed using your sensory organs while the former is like a conclusion out from what you have observed.