Absolute Dating 2020

Front

What is Absolute Dating?

Back

A method used to determine the exact age of an object or event in years, often using techniques like radiometric dating.

Front

What is a half-life?

Back

The time required for half of the parent isotope in a sample to decay into its daughter isotope.

Front

If 12.5% of the parent isotope remains, how many half-lives have passed?

Back

3 half-lives.

Front

What is the half-life of Carbon-14?

Back

5730 years.

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What is a daughter element?

Back

The product of radioactive decay of a parent isotope.

Front

If 25% of the parent isotope remains, how many half-lives have passed?

Back

2 half-lives.

Front

What is the formula to calculate remaining parent isotope?

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Remaining Parent Isotope = Initial Amount * (1/2)^(number of half-lives).

Front

What is the significance of Carbon-14 in dating?

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Carbon-14 is used to date organic materials up to about 50,000 years old.

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How do scientists determine the age of fossils?

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By using radiometric dating techniques, such as measuring the amount of Carbon-14 remaining.

Front

What is radiometric dating?

Back

A technique used to date materials by comparing the abundance of a radioactive isotope to its decay products.