"The method compares the abundance of a naturally occurring radioactive isotope within the material to the abundance of its decay products, which form at a known constant rate of decay."
The use of radioactive isotopes to determine the age of fossils and other materials.
Atomic Structure: The basic structure of an atom, including its subatomic particles such as protons, neutrons, and electrons.
Isotopes: Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons.
Half-Life: The time it takes for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay.
Radioactive Decay: The process in which an unstable atomic nucleus emits particles or energy in the form of radiation.
Alpha Decay: The emission of alpha particles from a radioactive nucleus.
Beta Decay: The emission of beta particles from a radioactive nucleus.
Gamma Radiation: High-frequency electromagnetic radiation emitted by a radioactive nucleus.
Radiometric Dating: The method of determining the age of an object using the decay rates of radioactive isotopes.
Carbon-14 Dating: A specific radiometric dating method used to date organic materials that contain carbon.
Uranium-Lead Dating: A radiometric dating method used to date igneous rocks and minerals.
Potassium-Argon Dating: A radiometric dating method used to date volcanic rocks and minerals.
Fission Track Dating: A radiometric dating method used to date minerals by counting the damage tracks caused by the spontaneous fission of uranium-238.
Radioactive Isotopes in Geology: The use of radiometric dating in geological studies to determine the ages of rocks, minerals, and geological events.
Radioactive Isotopes in Medicine: The use of radioactive isotopes in medical diagnosis and treatment.
Radiation Exposure: The harmful effects of exposure to high levels of radiation, including DNA damage and an increased risk of cancer.
Carbon-14 dating: Also known as radiocarbon dating, it is used to determine the age of organic materials like wood, cloth, and bones that are up to about 50,000 years old. Carbon-14 decays over time, and by measuring the remaining amount in the sample, scientists can calculate when the plant or animal died.
Potassium-argon dating: Used to date rocks and other geological materials, potassium-argon dating measures the ratio of the isotopes potassium-40 and argon-40. Potassium-40 has a half-life of 1.3 billion years, making it useful for dating rocks that are millions of years old.
Rubidium-strontium dating: Similar to potassium-argon dating, rubidium-strontium dating measures the ratio of the isotopes rubidium-87 and strontium-87. It is used to date rocks that are between 10 million and 4.6 billion years old.
Uranium-lead dating: Used to date rocks that are billions of years old, uranium-lead dating measures the ratio of the isotopes uranium-238 and lead-206. Uranium-238 has a half-life of 4.5 billion years, making it ideal for dating very old rocks.
Thermoluminescence dating: Used to date ceramics and other materials that were heated in the past, thermoluminescence dating measures the amount of light emitted when a sample is heated. The amount of light is proportional to how long it has been since the material was last heated.
Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating: Similar to thermoluminescence dating, OSL dating measures the amount of light emitted when a sample is exposed to sunlight. It is used to date materials like sand and soil that were buried and then subsequently exposed to sunlight.
Fission track dating: Used to date rocks and minerals, fission track dating measures the damage caused by nuclear fission of uranium-238. By counting the number of fission tracks in a sample, scientists can determine how long ago the rock was last heated.
"...rocks or carbon, in which trace radioactive impurities were selectively incorporated when they were formed."
"The use of radiometric dating was first published in 1907 by Bertram Boltwood..."
"...the principal source of information about the absolute age of rocks and other geological features, including the age of fossilized life forms or the age of Earth itself..."
"...radiometric dating methods are used in geochronology to establish the geologic time scale."
"Radiometric dating is also used to date archaeological materials, including ancient artifacts."
"Among the best-known techniques are radiocarbon dating, potassium–argon dating, and uranium–lead dating."
"The method compares the abundance of a naturally occurring radioactive isotope within the material to the abundance of its decay products..."
"...decay products, which form at a known constant rate of decay."
"...it provides a significant source of information about the ages of fossils and the deduced rates of evolutionary change."
"Different methods of radiometric dating vary in the timescale over which they are accurate and the materials to which they can be applied."
"...the absolute age of rocks and other geological features..."
"...the age of Earth itself..."
"...a significant source of information about the ages of fossils..."
"Different methods of radiometric dating vary in the timescale over which they are accurate..."
"...when they were formed."
"...can also be used to date a wide range of natural and man-made materials."
"...radiometric dating methods are used in geochronology to establish the geologic time scale."
"...the deduced rates of evolutionary change."
"Different methods of radiometric dating vary in the timescale over which they are accurate..."