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Carbon-14 is in all living things and decays after it dies. It has a long half life (the time it takes for half a sample to decay into another element) and gives a good estimate as to how old something is.

Carbon dating is only effective up to an approximate age of 70,000 years, and is only useful in dating organic matter. Since the vast majority of fossils are much older than this, carbon dating is not particularly useful in dating fossils, but is of great use in Archaeology.

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Why did scientists use trilobites as index fossils?

Scientists used trilobites as index fossils because they were abundant, had a wide distribution, and had a relatively short existence in the fossil record. This made them useful for correlating rock layers from different locations and determining the relative ages of the rocks.


What are facts about paleontology?

Paleontology is scientists working with fossils. they dig up the fossils and research them. Fossils are making some scientists believe that evolution is true. Some fossils look very similar and it takes a trained eye to tell the difference between them. Sometimes when a paleontologist finds a fossil they can tell the approximiate size, weight and details if the creature would be alive.


How do you scientists use rocks and fossils to understand age and geological history?

Aside from carbon-14, rocks that can be radiometrically dated are mostly igneous and metamorphic rocks. most sedimentary rocks cannot be dated by this method. this is because many sedimentary rocks are made up of particles eroded from older rocks. dateing these pieces only gives the age of the preexisting rock from which it came.


How do scientist study plant and animals that lived a million years ago?

Scientists study ancient plants and animals by examining fossilized remains found in rock layers. They use techniques like radiometric dating to determine the age of the fossils. By analyzing the morphology and genetics of these fossils, scientists can reconstruct information about past ecosystems and the evolution of species that lived millions of years ago.


How does relative dating and absolute dating help scientists assemble a fossil record for an area?

Relative dating is the science determining the relative order of past events, without necessarily determining their absolute age Absolute dating is the process of determining an approximate computed age in archaeology and geology.

Related Questions

What do scientists use to determine a fossil's relative age?

Carbon14 dating (isotopic dating)


What evidence do scientists use to study the ancient dinosaur?

Scientists use mainly fossils.


What is the usage of the geological time scale?

The use of it is so they can date all of the fossils and stuff for scientists to study and see what it was like in the past.


What do scientists use the fossil record for?

Recording fossils No.


What two things must scientist measure to find the absolute age of a rock?

scientists use carbon14 and potassium argon to find absolute age of rock


What geologists able to tell archaeologist about fossils?

How do archaeologists date fossils ? archaeologist can date fossills by seeingf how deep down it is in the ground [ checking how many layers ] , scientists can use radio-active dating, and compare a fossil that they know the exact date that it was from compare the looks and tell by that


What are geologists able to tell archaeologists about fossils?

How do archaeologists date fossils ? archaeologist can date fossills by seeingf how deep down it is in the ground [ checking how many layers ] , scientists can use radio-active dating, and compare a fossil that they know the exact date that it was from compare the looks and tell by that


What two things must scientist measure to find the absolute ages of rocks?

scientists use carbon14 and potassium argon to find absolute age of rock


What are two common tools that scientists use when cleaning fossils?

bacon


How do archaeologists date fossils?

Scientists take samples of the carbon remaining in the fossil. They then use a form of carbon dating to determine its age. (it doesn't have to be a fossil, it could be any ancient remain, even a skull from fifty years ago, or a plate from the 1700's. Just wanted to clarify that a little bit more!)


What do geologist use index fossils for?

to date a rock layer and other fossils within that layer


What are the four step scientists use to study fossils?

Scientists use the following four steps to study fossils: 1. Excavation - careful digging to uncover fossils, 2. Preparation - cleaning and preserving fossils, 3. Description - documenting physical characteristics of fossils, and 4. Analysis - using various methods to interpret the fossils' age, environment, and relationships to other organisms.