Absolute Dating (2/2) VHS

Which values do scientists compare when using potassium-argon dating?

• the number of stable and unstable parent atoms

• the number of non-decayed elements left in the rock

• the amount of parent and daughter material trapped in the rock

• the amount of gas from the decayed material that has escaped from rock

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NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Which property of argon makes it useful for potassium-argon dating?

• It decays into potassium.

• It is an unstable element.

• It remains trapped in rock.

• It is useful only for dating newer rock.

How is radioactive decay used to date sedimentary rocks?

• The amounts of potassium and argon in sedimentary rocks are measured.

• The amounts of carbon-14 and nitrogen in sedimentary rocks are measured.

• The amounts of unstable elements in each layer of the sedimentary rocks are compared.

• The amounts of unstable elements in the volcanic layers above and below the sedimentary layers are measured.

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NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Which phrase describes carbon-14 dating?

• uses the rate at which nitrogen-14 decays into carbon-14

• dates the remains of organisms to determine when they died

• measures the number of unstable elements in ancient volcanic rocks

• determines the age of ancient fossils older than 50,000 years old

Which phrase describes the element carbon-14?

• decays at an unknown rate

• found in an organism’s remains

• forms from the breakdown of nitrogen-14

• is measured to determine the age of sedimentary rocks

Which statement explains why carbon-14 dating cannot be used to date ancient rocks?

• Carbon-14 decays at a varying rate.

• Carbon-14 decays relatively quickly.

• Carbon-14 can be used only to date the remains of organisms.

• Carbon-14 has a half-life that is much longer than potassium.

Which statement explains how determining the age of the remains of living things is similar to dating rocks?

• Organisms and rocks both contain stable and unstable elements.

• Organisms contain the same unstable elements as those found in rocks.

• Elements in rocks decay at the same rate as elements in the remains of organisms.

• Rocks and organisms both have gases trapped inside that are measured to determine age.

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NGSS.HS-PS1-8

Which is the correct formula for calculating the age of a meteorite if using half-life?

• Age of object = t sub 1/2 all over n

• Age of object = n over t sub 1/2

• Age of object = n x t sub 1/2

• Age of object = n + t sub 1/2

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NGSS.HS-PS1-8

What is the age of a meteorite if potassium-40 decayed from 80 g to 10 g? The half-life of potassium-40 is 1.3 billion years.

• 1.3 billion years

• 2.6 billion years

• 3.9 billion years

• 5.2 billion years

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8