How Do We Know How Old the Earth Is?

The video explores the history of lead usage and its toxic effects, highlighting Claire Patterson's work in determining Earth's age using radiometric dating. Patterson's discovery of widespread lead contamination led to his activism against lead pollution, ultimately contributing to the ban on leaded gasoline.

What was one of the main reasons humans used lead for thousands of years?

• It was soft, dense, and resistant to corrosion.

• It was a renewable resource.

• It was non-toxic and safe for use.

• It was abundant and easy to extract.

What was the main limitation of carbon dating when it comes to determining the age of the Earth?

• Carbon dating requires a large sample size.

• Carbon dating is not effective for objects older than 75,000 years.

• Carbon dating is only accurate for objects less than 10,000 years old.

• Carbon dating is too expensive.

What was Claire Patterson's role in the Manhattan Project?

• He separated uranium isotopes using mass spectrometry.

• He developed the atomic bomb.

• He was a lead contamination specialist.

• He worked on the development of nuclear reactors.

Why are zircons useful for uranium-lead dating?

• They are abundant and easy to find.

• They form with uranium but little lead, making decay measurements straightforward.

• They are easily eroded and changed over time.

• They contain a lot of lead naturally.

What was the main challenge Patterson faced in his lab when trying to date the Earth?

• Contamination of samples with unwanted lead.

• Lack of funding for his research.

• Inability to find suitable meteorite samples.

• Difficulty in using mass spectrometry.

What technique did Patterson use to determine the age of the Earth?

• Lead-lead dating

• Thermoluminescence dating

• Carbon dating

• Potassium-argon dating

What was the age of the Earth determined by Claire Patterson?

• 6.5 billion years

• 3.5 billion years

• 4.5 billion years

• 5.5 billion years

What was one of the main health effects of lead exposure highlighted by Patterson?

• Increased risk of cancer

• Lower IQ scores in children

• Increased risk of heart disease

• Increased risk of diabetes

What was the outcome of Patterson's activism against lead pollution?

• Lead levels in the environment were deemed acceptable.

• Lead was declared safe for use in small quantities.

• Leaded gasoline was banned in the United States.

• Lead was banned from all consumer products.

What did Patterson's research on lead levels in ancient and modern bones reveal?

• Modern bones had significantly less lead than ancient bones.

• There was no significant difference in lead levels between ancient and modern bones.

• Modern bones had significantly more lead than ancient bones.

• Ancient bones had significantly more lead than modern bones.