Unit 2 Lesson 3: Absolute Dating

Which process would be most effective in determining the actual age of fossils embedded in rock?

• relative dating

• absolute dating

• use of index fossils

• use of core sampling

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

• era
• age
• half-life
• eon

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

The original element that undergoes radioactive decay is known as the...

• daughter element
• half-life
• parent element
• carbon-14

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

How does absolute age differ from relative age?

• only absolute dating indicates which rock is older than another
• only absolute dating finds the age in years
• only relative dating finds the age in years

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

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

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

• the daughter product
• geologic time
• the half-life
• the half-time

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

What is the breakdown of a radioactive isotope into a stable isotope of the same element or another element?

• radiometric dating

• radioactive decay

• absolute dating

• aging

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

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

• era
• age
• half-life
• eon

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

The original element that undergoes radioactive decay is known as the...

• daughter element
• half-life
• parent element
• carbon-14

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

What makes using radioactive material useful for dating rock layers?

• it is dangerous to be near
• it decays at a constant rate
• sedimentary rock layers don't have radioactive material
• it can only be found in metamorphic rock

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8