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How did scientists use radioactive decay to determine the absolute age of the rock?
Wiki User
∙ 9y ago
Scientists use the half life of carbon-14 as a parameter to measure the age of an object. Based on the amount of molecular decay, because it happens at a constant rate, scientists are able to assume the age of said object.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoRadioactive decay of an element can be used because we know how long it takes to decay and so therefore, from what's left, how long it's been around. For example, Argon takes about 1.3 Billion to decay to half of it's once mass (a half-life).
So after each half-life, the amount of the parent element (older element) halves what it was. So, if we saw that there is a rock where the ratio between the Potassium and Argon respectively is 1:3, we know that there has been two half lives and must be at least 2.6 Billion years old (not exactly common).
If you have noticed, I said (wrote) that it was AT LEAST 2.6 Billion years old. This is because, during metamorphism or melting, the radiometric age resets. So therefore, we can't be sure if a rock is 2.6 Billion years old 3.9 Billion years. That is how geologists figure at the absolute age (minimum).
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoFossils are collected along with rocks that occur from the same strata. These samples are carefully cataloged and analyzed with a mass spectrometer. The mass spectrometer is able to give information about the type and amount of isotopes found in the rock. Scientists find the ratio of parent isotope to daughter isotope. By comparing this ratio to the half-life logarithmic scale of the parent isotope, they are able to find the age of the rock or fossil in question.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoScientist's calculate the age of a sample by measuring the amount of the radioactive material in the sample. Scientist use the half-life of the radioactive material to date the measurement.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoIn radioactive dating, scientists calculate the age of a sample based on the amount of remaining radioactive isotopes it contains.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoWe use that to compare among other orgnisms.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agothe three charectoristi
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What can scientists learn from the rate at which radioactive elements decay?
fossils
Is radioactive decay used to find the absolute age of a rock?
its not from radioactivity its from carbon dating
Radioactive dating of rock samples is a method?
used to determine the age of rocks and minerals by measuring the abundance of certain radioactive isotopes within them. This method relies on the fact that radioactive isotopes decay at a known rate over time. By measuring the ratio of parent isotopes to daughter isotopes, scientists can calculate how long it has been since the rock or mineral formed.
How do you determine the radioactive decay of an element?
The radioactivity of the materials is measured with suitable instruments.
How are radioactive isotopes used determine the absolute age of igneous rock?
Answer : When the isotopes decay, scientists can find out how old the rock is depending on the radioactive isotope's half-life. Explanation: Radioactive isotopes are unstable and will decay. For example, when humans die carbon-14 decays. The isotopes will decay into a stable isotope over time. Scientists can tell how old the rock was from looking at the radioactive isotope's half-life, which tells them how long it would take for there to be half the radioactive isotope and half the stable isotope. At the next half-life there will be 25% of the radioactive isotope and 75% of the stable isotope. At the next half life there will be 12.5% radioactive and 87.5% stable. Example: Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope with a half life of 5,730 years. How old would carbon-14 be when there is 75% carbon-14 in the rock? 75% is half of the time before the half-life, so it would be 2,365 years. Hope this helps. Half life helps scientists find how much the isotope has decayed and the age of the rock.
Scientists used radioactive decay to measure what?
amount if living organism that is expected to radioactive isotope.
Geologists determine the absolute age of rocks using?
Geologists determine the absolute age of rocks using the rates of decay of radioactive elements. Radioactive dating measures the amount of various isotopes present in the sample.
What can scientists learn from the rate at which radioactive elements decay?
fossils
What does a scientist need to know to figure out the absolute age of rock?
They need to determine the amount of radioactive decay of a specific isotope in the rock since its formation.
Why radioactive decay use to determine the absolute age of rocks?
**this happens because it does. is a common answer i receive but is not true. BUT the answer IS that radioactive decay is used to determine the ABSOLUTE age of rocks because it is more accurate, and because when you put radioactive decay and you put a rock there, you see a process going on. correct me if I'm wrong but i believe that using this is receive don't listen to what i say below: When you take radioactive material, and you put a solid in there, what happens? COMBUSTION! this is caused by a CHEMICAL REACTION. so common sense tells me that when you put radioactive decay to determine a rocks absolute age, its common knowledge that they use it for accuracy, and they take the age and see how old it (the rocks) are. that's how they know the age of rocks. (look in your every day science book it should say) hope this helped :3 :D **
Why is radioactive decay used to determine the absolute ages of rocks?
**this happens because it does. is a common answer i receive but is not true. BUT the answer IS that radioactive decay is used to determine the ABSOLUTE age of rocks because it is more accurate, and because when you put radioactive decay and you put a rock there, you see a process going on. correct me if I'm wrong but i believe that using this is receive don't listen to what i say below: When you take radioactive material, and you put a solid in there, what happens? COMBUSTION! this is caused by a CHEMICAL REACTION. so common sense tells me that when you put radioactive decay to determine a rocks absolute age, its common knowledge that they use it for accuracy, and they take the age and see how old it (the rocks) are. that's how they know the age of rocks. (look in your every day science book it should say) hope this helped :3 :D **
How is radioactive decay used to determine the absolute age a rocks?
The basic idea is to measure the amount of the radioactive isotope, and of one or more of its decay products. The older the rock, the larger the percentage of the original isotope that decayed - so the ratio between the original isotope and the decay product changes over time.
What types of elements are useful for dating materials?
Radioactive elements are used to date the age of rocks. Radioactive elements decay according to a known pattern. Scientists can use the elements of that pattern to determine when the rock with the original radioactive element was formed.
What is absolute age?
Absolute age is the age of a rock as determined by the measurement of radioactive decay from the time of the rock's formation.
Is radioactive decay used to find the absolute age of a rock?
its not from radioactivity its from carbon dating
Radioactive dating of rock samples is a method?
used to determine the age of rocks and minerals by measuring the abundance of certain radioactive isotopes within them. This method relies on the fact that radioactive isotopes decay at a known rate over time. By measuring the ratio of parent isotopes to daughter isotopes, scientists can calculate how long it has been since the rock or mineral formed.
What is the source of heat in the Earth's interior?
The decay of radioactive isotopes.The decay of radioactive isotopes.The decay of radioactive isotopes.The decay of radioactive isotopes.
