How does radiometric dating help scientists pinpoint the age of a fossil


Asked by maham237 @ in Biology viewed by 280 People


How does radiometric dating help scientists pinpoint the age of a fossil?
In radiometric dating, scientists place samples of a fossil in certain liquids until the samples dissolve. The rate at which they dissolve indicates the age of the fossil.

In radiometric dating, scientists mix the carbon in a fossil with carbon from similar fossils whose age they know. By comparing the carbon, they can tell the exact age of the fossil.

Radiometric dating allows scientists to find fossils in only the lowest and oldest layers of sediment.

Radiometric dating shows the rate of decay of radioactive material present in any object. Scientists can use that data to find the absolute age of the fossil.

Answered by maham237 @



ANSWER: Radiometric dating shows the rate of decay of radioactive material present in any objects. Scientists can use that data to find the absolute age of the fossil.

The radioactive carbon method is a method used to determine the age of the fossil based on the ratio of the number of atoms of stable carbon isotope 12C and the radioactive isotope 14C. During their lifetime, plants or animals exchange carbon with their environment, so the carbon-containing it will have the same percentage of 14C as well as the atmosphere. When a plant or animal dies, it ceases to collect 14C, but 14C within its biological material at that moment will continue to decompose. So, the ratio of 14C and 12C in residues will gradually decrease. Since the rate at which the 14C decay is known, the percentage of radiocarbon can be used to determine the time period that has passed since the sample was given to stop exchanging carbon with the environment (older sample - less 14C).

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