Radiometric Dating Quiz

What is radiometric dating?

• A method used to determine the age of rocks and fossils by analyzing the size of the fossils.

• A method used to determine the age of rocks and fossils by measuring the color of the rocks.

• A method used to determine the age of rocks and fossils by counting the number of layers in the rocks.

• A method used to determine the age of rocks and fossils by measuring the decay of radioactive isotopes.

Which of the following is NOT a type of radiometric dating?

• Carbon dating

• Potassium-argon dating

• Fossil dating

• Uranium-lead dating

What is the half-life of a radioactive isotope?

• The half-life of a radioactive isotope is the time it takes for half of the atoms in a sample to decay.

• The half-life of a radioactive isotope is the time it takes for one-fourth of the atoms in a sample to decay.

• The half-life of a radioactive isotope is the time it takes for the atoms in a sample to double.

• The half-life of a radioactive isotope is the time it takes for all of the atoms in a sample to decay.

What is the principle behind radiometric dating?

• Radioactive decay

• Magnetic field

• Chemical reactions

• Carbon dating

Which type of rock is best suited for radiometric dating?

• Volcanic rocks

• Metamorphic rocks

• Igneous rocks

• Sedimentary rocks

What is the main limitation of radiometric dating?

• It can only be used to determine the age of organic materials.

• It is not accurate for dating fossils.

• It is limited to dating objects that are less than 50,000 years old.

• It can only be used to determine the age of rocks and minerals that contain radioactive isotopes.

What can radiometric dating tell us about the age of Earth?

• It can provide an estimate of the Earth's age by measuring the decay of radioactive isotopes.

• It can estimate the age of Earth by examining the growth rings of ancient trees.

• It can determine the age of Earth by analyzing the layers of sedimentary rocks.

• It can calculate the age of Earth by studying the patterns of fossil records.