Radiometric dating.
Not of the fossil though, but of the igneous rock above and below the sedimentary rock the fossil lies in.
Carbon decay or carbon dating
Unstable isotopes are radioactive isotopes, can disintegrate and emit radiations.
Not all isotopes are unstable. But now more than 3 000 unstable isotopes are known, artificial or natural.
Polonium is the element in group 16 that has unstable isotopes. It is a radioactive element with no stable isotopes.
The process is called radiometric dating. It measures the ratio of unstable isotopes to stable isotopes in a rock sample to calculate the age of the fossil within the rock. Decay of unstable isotopes, like carbon-14 or uranium-238, into stable isotopes occurs at a known rate, allowing scientists to deduce the age of the fossil.
relative dating
relative dating
Carbon decay or carbon dating
Scientists use the relative amount of stable and unstable isotopes in an object to determine its age.
Unstable isotopes can be chemically reactive.
Unstable isotopes are radioactive isotopes, can disintegrate and emit radiations.
Hydrogen has 1 unstable isotope, and 2 stable isotopes.
Not all isotopes are unstable. But now more than 3 000 unstable isotopes are known, artificial or natural.
Polonium is the element in group 16 that has unstable isotopes. It is a radioactive element with no stable isotopes.
The process is called radiometric dating. It measures the ratio of unstable isotopes to stable isotopes in a rock sample to calculate the age of the fossil within the rock. Decay of unstable isotopes, like carbon-14 or uranium-238, into stable isotopes occurs at a known rate, allowing scientists to deduce the age of the fossil.
Some isotopes are stable, others are unstable.
These isotopes are unstable and emit radiation.