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How are radioactive isotopes helpful for studying rocks and fossils?
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Radioactive isotopes can be used to determine how old a rock or fossil is. One method is based on 14C (or Carbon 14) which has a half life of 5,730 years. Scientists know the ratio of 12C to 14C in plant materials based on absorption of CO2 is relatively constant1, but that the creation of 14C stops at death. With this knowledge, if you measure the ratio of 12C to 14C you can estimate how long ago the sample was alive.
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1Technically, the 14C levels have changed over the years due to various geologic, astronomic, and technologic issues, so scientists also compensate for that knowledge when they calibrate a particular sample.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
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