Absolute Dating

Front

What is Absolute Dating?

Back

A method used to determine the exact age of an object or fossil by measuring the decay of radioactive isotopes.

Front

What element is commonly used in Absolute Dating for organic materials?

Back

Carbon-14.

Front

What is the Half-life of a radioactive isotope?

Back

The time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay.

Front

What is the half-life of Carbon-14?

Back

Approximately 5,730 years.

Front

What is the half-life of Potassium-40?

Back

1.3 billion years.

Front

If a sample has a half-life of 10 seconds, how much of the original sample remains after 20 seconds?

Back

25% of the original sample remains.

Front

What is a parent isotope?

Back

The original radioactive isotope that undergoes decay.

Front

What is a daughter isotope?

Back

The product of the decay of a parent isotope.

Front

How do you calculate the remaining percentage of a parent isotope after n half-lives?

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Remaining % = (1/2)^n * 100%.

Front

What is the significance of Absolute Dating in geology?

Back

It allows scientists to determine the age of rocks and fossils, providing a timeline for Earth's history.