Half-life & Radiometric Dating

Front

What is the original element that undergoes radioactive decay called?

Back

Parent element

Front

If you start with 100 grams of radioactive C-14, how many grams are left after 1 half-life (5730 years)?

Back

50 grams

Front

What is the product of radioactive decay known as?

Back

Daughter element

Front

After three half-lives, what fraction of the original sample remains?

Back

1/8

Front

What is the method of determining the absolute ages of rocks called?

Back

Radioactive dating

Front

Define half-life in the context of radioactive decay.

Back

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

Front

What is the significance of carbon-14 in radiometric dating?

Back

Carbon-14 is used to date organic materials up to about 50,000 years old.

Front

How does radioactive decay relate to the stability of an element?

Back

Radioactive decay indicates that an element is unstable and will transform into a more stable form.

Front

What is the difference between a parent element and a daughter element?

Back

The parent element is the original radioactive isotope, while the daughter element is the product of its decay.

Front

If a sample has a half-life of 10 years, how much of a 200-gram sample remains after 30 years?

Back

25 grams (200g -> 100g -> 50g -> 25g) after 3 half-lives.