Radiometric Dating and Radioactive Decay

Front

When an unstable radioactive atom decays, it usually turns into: a more stable atom, a less stable atom, the exact same atom but with less pure energy, empty space

Back

a more stable atom

Front

Radiometric dating is possible because the rates of decay of radioactive isotopes _____.

Back

are constant

Front

The time it takes for 50% of the nuclei in a radioactive sample to decay to its stable isotope is called _____

Back

the half-life

Front

What fraction of the original parent isotope still exists after 3 half lives? Options: 0,5000 g, 0,2500 g, 0,1250 g, 0.0625 g

Back

0,1250 g

Front

You find a rock sample with radioactive atoms present. If 12.5% of the original radioactive atoms were present, how many half-lives has the rock been around for? (Hint, at Half-Life = 0, you start with 100%)

Back

3

Front

You find a rock sample with radioactive atoms present. If 25% of the original radioactive atoms were present, how many half-lives has the rock been around for? (Hint, at Half-Life = 0, you start with 100%)

Back

2

Front

If the half-life of a radioactive group of atoms is 100 years, then how old is the rock if there have been two half-lives?

Back

200 years

Front

If 12.5% of the original radioactive atoms are still present and the half-life of an atom is 60 years, how old is the material?

Back

180 years old

Front

If the half-life of a radioactive group of atoms is 100 years, then how old is the rock if there have been ten half-lives?

Back

1000 years

Front

Using ESRT (A) [Radioactive Decay Data], what is the half-life in standard notation of carbon-14?

Back

5,700 years