Relative Dating vs. Absolute Dating

Why are isotopes with short half-lives not useful for dating very old rocks?

• because not enough of the parent isotope remains to measure accurately
• because not enough of the daughter product has formed to be detectable
• because neither the parent isotope nor the daughter product will be detectable
• because very old rocks would never have contained these isotopes

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

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

Radiometric dating is possible because the rates of decay of radioactive isotopes _____.

• change over time
• change from place to place
• are constant
• vary widely

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

If the half-life of a radioactive group of atoms is 100 years, then how old is the rock if there have been two half-lives?

• 25 years
• 200 years
• 400 years
• 800 years

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

According to the law of superposition, the oldest fossils are found 

• At the top of the rock layers
• Near the bottom of the rock layers
• In the middle of the rock layers
• Somewhat near the surface

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

According to the law of superposition, which layer is the youngest?

• A
• B
• C

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Which type of dating method can be used on rock layers by applying the Law of Superposition?

• relative dating
• absolute dating
• radioactive dating
• radiometric dating

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Which of the following states that the geologic feature which cuts another is the younger of the two features

• law of horizontality

• cross cutting relationships

• law of superposition

• uniformitarianism

Which of the following is the oldest?

• Layer L
• Intrusion D
• Intrusion H
• Layer E

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4