Absolute Dating

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a tool geologists use to determine the age of rocks?

• Radio-Active Dating

• Index Fossils

• Law of Superposition

• Ordering of rock layers

Multiple Choice

Which law helps geologists determine the relative ages of undisturbed rock layers?

• Law of Superposition

• Law of Conservation

• Law of Fossils

• Law of Erosion

Multiple Select

What are two main reasons for the formation of an unconformity in rock layers?

• Erosion and lack of deposition

• Earthquakes and volcanic activity

• Flooding and sedimentation

• Glaciation and uplift

Fill in the Blanks

Absolute dating is used to determine the

age of a fossil or rock.

Match

Match the following

• A

• B

• C

• D

• E

Proton

Neutron

Electron

Shell

Nucleus

• Proton

• Neutron

• Electron

• Shell

• Nucleus

Drag and Drop

Radioactive decay happens when a(n)​

Placeholder

atom will change it's nucleus to become a​(n)​

Placeholder

atom.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

unstable

stable

Multiple Choice

When molten rock cools, potassium-40 atoms are trapped inside. Over time, potassium-40 decays into which element?

• Argon

• Carbon

• Helium

• Sodium

Multiple Select

Which of the following statements about half-lives are correct?

• Different atoms have different half-lives.

• Some half-lives are more than 4 billion years old.

• Scientists use half-lives to determine the age of rocks or fossils.

• All atoms have the same half-life.

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of half-life?

• The time needed for one-half of the parent atoms to turn into daughter atoms.

• The time needed for all atoms to decay.

• The time needed for atoms to double.

• The time needed for atoms to become radioactive.

Dropdown

The interval of time required for ​

Select answer

of the atomic nuclei of a radioactive sample to ​

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is a ​

Select answer

Multiple Choice

Which of the following was NOT a historical method of dating objects before the 20th century?

• Radiometric dating

• Biblical accounts

• Tree rings

• Varve

Multiple Choice

What is one limitation of radiocarbon dating?

• It can only be used to date objects that were once living.

• It can be used to date any object.

• It is accurate for objects older than 4.5 billion years.

• It does not use carbon isotopes.

Multiple Choice

Which radiometric dating method is best suited for determining the age of extremely old rocks?

• Uranium-Lead dating

• Rubidium-Strontium dating

• Potassium-Argon dating

• Carbon-14 dating

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a method used in absolute dating to determine the age of rocks?

• Radio-Active Dating

• Law of Superposition

• Ordering of rock layers

• Index Fossils

Fill in the Blanks

Potassium-40 decays into

-40.